This month the council is celebrating 20 years of its ‘Wellbeing Walks’ scheme. Originally set up in 2004 to help local people get exercising, the walks have since evolved into much more than that, a weekly opportunity for people who might otherwise be on their own, to get out of the house, chat and make friends, while also being in the fresh air and getting to know their local area.
Many people describe how the walks have changed their lives, helped them to feel less lonely, make new friends and build a new life for themselves. There are currently 375 active walkers, with walks available seven days a week at different locations across the city, for varying ability levels – so there is an option to suit everyone.
The walks are overseen by the council’s Independence and Wellbeing team, but are entirely led by volunteers, many of whom started out as attendees themselves.
Once such volunteer is Liz, from Southsea, who has been part of Wellbeing Walks since it first began in 2004, having just recently moved to Portsmouth from Cardiff. Alongside her career as a social worker, Liz quickly became a walk leader and a trainer for others. As well as the walks, Liz organises a full events schedule for the walkers and their partners and friends including meals out, cinema trips and an annual Christmas meal for around 100 people. She was recently shortlisted for the Portsmouth Inspiring Volunteer Awards in the ‘Love of Portsmouth’ category for ‘her devotion to countless hours of volunteering, making a significant impact on the lives of many, and whose dedication and love of Portsmouth shines brightly’.
Liz says: “I have always done voluntary work alongside my working life – I started volunteering for the PDSA at 15 and have continued volunteering in many capacities up to my age now. I like to help people and find it beneficial to me – it has taught me many things.
“I would encourage anybody to come on our long or short walks whatever abilities they have. We have flat walks that are easier for different walking abilities or wheelchairs.”
Debra from Paulsgrove first became aware of Wellbeing Walks more than 10 years ago when she was working at the council and joined a lunchtime walk for staff. She picked up the groups again last year after seeing a fayre at the Cascades shopping centre promoting the walks, and is now a walk leader.
She says, “I live alone so look forward to meeting up with these groups – they are welcoming and good company. I enjoy Hilsea Ramparts on a Thursday as this is a walk that shows a different part of Portsmouth. Nature at its best, through the woodland to the foreshore – seeing the seasons change, with an optional finish at the cafe for further socialising.”
Husband and wife, John and Beryl, volunteer as walk leaders together. John recalls another walk leader who inspired him: “There was a man who led the walks who lived till he was more than 100 – he abseiled off the Spinnaker Tower, did a skydive. Seeing him doing the walk leading was my inspiration.
“A lot of people who are on their own might not want to walk on their own, but with a group they’re quite happy to. It’s great, people come along and they want to come back – and you see the improvement in their health and they also like to socialise afterwards.”
“And it’s just as good for our mental health as it is for the walkers”, says Beryl.
Friends, Lesley and Paula, have been part of Wellbeing Walks for 19 years between them, and now both lead walks across the city.
Paula began coming along in the school holidays when she was working as a teacher and then more regularly since she has retired. She recalls, “people were very good at remembering your face, which was nice, welcomed you. It’s a really nice bunch of people.”
“You get all sorts come along. Sometimes you’ve had a problem in the past that they are having a problem with now and you can offer little tips to deal with it.
“It’s nice listening to what people have to say, too, because not everybody has somebody to listen to them, or see people they feel they can talk to.”
Lesley agrees: “It’s nice sharing good things together and also if they’re down you can find out what’s wrong and perhaps help them a little bit. Sometimes just talking to people is a way of helping.
“We had a lady today who was on her second walk, I think – she’d lost her partner recently and she had met up with one of the other walkers, who lost her husband at Christmas time, and I found out today that they met up on one of the other walks, they’ve made a good friendship and they’ve swapped phone numbers – so, just by coming on a walk, they’ve found something that’s going to help them both, support one another through things.”
“And people often say they come for the social side as much as the walking”, says Paula. “They like being outdoors, but it’s mixing with a group.”
“And they like coming for a coffee afterwards”, says Lesley.
“Yeah, we sit and have a chat and a laugh, don’t we?” says Paula.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health and Care, said:
“I’d like to congratulate Wellbeing Walks on reaching this amazing milestone and look forward to another 20 years of this project which has clearly benefited so many. I’d like to thank the volunteers, in particular, who give their time freely every week and without whom the walks would not be possible. I would encourage anyone who is on their own and would like to get out and make friends to look into Wellbeing Walks and the other activities offered by our independence and wellbeing team.”
Details of social activities for adults in Portsmouth, including Wellbeing Walks, can be found at: portsmouth.gov.uk/social or you can email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9284 1762 for more information.