Short, free and friendly wellbeing walks within easy reach of where you live, to help to become and stay more active.
Walk your way to a healthier life.
West Wales Walking for Wellbeing is funded by the Healthy & Active Fund and provides accessible walking opportunities for those living in communities across West Wales.
The project aim is to:
- Work with GP practices and other centres in local communities to set-up sustainable ‘’walks for well-being’, most of which will be delivered by volunteers.
- Highlight the benefits to both walkers and the health sector of supporting community-based walking schemes.
- Demonstrate a sustainable model for social prescribing and walking activity.
- Walking groups will welcome referrals from health professionals for those most likely to benefit from taking part in health walks.
- Demonstrate the value of community-based walking opportunities.
Our group walks are led by friendly, trained volunteers who are on hand to provide encouragement and support, and make sure no one gets left behind.
Our walks are short and over easy terrain. They are open to everyone, but are especially aimed at those who are least active.
Walk for physical health
Exercise is one of the best things we can do for our bodies. Not only will you feel better, but exercise has major health benefits – physical and mental. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise – and you can do it anywhere, at any time. Walking can help to manage and prevent a range of health conditions. It has benefits for your heart, lungs and blood pressure. It burns calories and can help you manage your weight, reduces fatigue, helps you sleep better and can ease joint pain.
Walk for mental health
The benefits of walking to mental wellbeing and in managing mental health conditions are well established. Walking improves mood, reduces stress, anxiety and depression. Regular walking protects your mental wellbeing and keeps your brain working well as you get older. When we take exercise outdoors by walking, being in nature brings additional benefits to our mental wellbeing.
Walk for social health
Walking in groups has been shown to have additional benefits to our mental wellbeing. It combats loneliness, increases your relationships with other people and helps you feel connected in your community. So, joining one of our walks gives you the health benefits of walking – physical, mental and social – all at once.
Project Coordinator – Dawn Forster
I started the role of Walking for Wellbeing Coordinator in January 2019. I will be delivering the project across Ceredigion working alongside GP surgeries, community organisations and volunteers. My aim is to get the people of Ceredigion more active through short, safe, walks in friendly groups. Please get in touch if you have any ideas or would like to get involved.
Dawn can be contacted by calling 07866 985753
If you wish to book onto Walking for Wellbeing walks you will need to register as a walker first, so that we have important information that will help us manage the walking programme safely and effectively.
The West Wales Walking for Wellbeing (WWWfW) project aims to develop and deliver a programme of ‘walking for health and wellbeing’ opportunities in West Wales that is community based, sustainable, and embraces a social prescribing model.
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