Are you planning to walk further in 2019….?
Hands up if you made a New Year resolution to get fitter, or meet new people in 2019?
Most of us reflect at this time of year and these are certainly achievable and popular resolutions. Walking with friends is an easy and accessible opportunity. Good news is that there is a growing network of walking groups for all abilities across Kincardine and Mearns.
The following are useful organisations and contacts;
1 Paths for All
Paths for All’s vision is for a happier, healthier Scotland where physical activity improves quality of life and wellbeing for all.
Our aim is to significantly increase the number of people who choose to walk in Scotland – whether that’s leisure walking or active-choice walking to work, school or shops. We work to create more opportunities and better environments not just for walking, but also for cycling and other activities, to help make Scotland a more active, more prosperous, greener country.
We promote everyday walking for everyone in Scotland.
We have a very clear focus: we want to get Scotland walking: everyone, everyday, everywhere. We are talking about regular, easy, local walking. Walking that can be part of daily routines and family life. Walking to be enjoyed in groups or alone, at work or at home. Walking that takes place in city streets, community parks, local woodlands or coastal paths. This is walking that’s relevant and accessible to us all: This is everyday walking.
We work to improve physical, mental and social health
We believe that everyday walking can be the key to improving the health and wellbeing of the Scottish people. By encouraging and supporting more people to take their first small step towards enjoying physical activity, we want to help fight some of Scotland’s most pressing health issues: obesity, cancer, heart disease, depression and dementia. Creating more opportunities for walking helps to reduce loneliness and social isolation and creates health equalities for all. Everyday walking can help tackle all this and more: It can be life changing.
We work to improve the environment for people to be active.
We know people walking more is good for Scotland; delivering real benefits for health, transport, environment and the economy. So we do everything in our power to provide more opportunities and better spaces for walking and other activities. We are helping to improve and expand the network of multi-use paths for people living in and visiting Scotland to enjoy. We fund, train and support champions for local path groups. We work with all our partners to put everyday walking on the map. For further information please contact;
Paths for All
Helen Wilson
Development Officer
helen.wilson@pathsforall.org.uk
https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/walking-for-health
2 Walking to Health in Kincardine and Mearns
For more information on local everyday walks in Kincardine and Mearns and across Aberdeenshire, please contact Kirsty Muirden, details below.
For general information on everyday walks, including information for Health & Social Care Professionals, and an online map of health walks across Scotland, please visit Paths for All’s website – www.pathsforall.org.uk
http://www.nhsgrampian.org/nhsgrampian/gra_display_simple_index.jsp?pContentID=8455&p_applic=CCC
Kirsty Muirden
Walking to Health Coordinator
NHS Grampian
E: kirsty.muirden@nhs.net or T: 07973 945467, or visit our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/aberdeenshirehealthwalks/
3 Grampian 50 + Network
Set up over twenty years ago, the Grampian 50+ Network’s original objective was to create opportunities for older people to lead more active, stimulating and rewarding lives-and it has certainly succeeded in this. Today, more than sixty Groups are affiliated to it, spread throughout Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray, with a membership of over a thousand and is open to all 50+ Groups and Organizations in the North East on payment of a small fee.
Run by a committee of Volunteers, the Network is a registered Scottish Charity which promotes: –
good links between groups, sharing ideas and experiences for the benefit of its members
The aims of the Network are:
- develops educational and recreational opportunities
- organises themed events
- provides training
- supports special projects
For further information on the Grampian 50+ Network please contact;
Marjory D’Arcy
Chairperson
https://grampian50plus.webs.com/