The Quiet Success of Walking Groups

On any weekday morning in towns across Britain, small groups of people can be seen setting off together on foot. They are not hikers heading for distant hills, but members of community walking groups, which organise short, gentle walks of between thirty minutes and an hour through parks, along rivers and around housing estates. Over the past twenty years, such groups have multiplied, and many are now supported by local councils and health services as a cheap and effective way of improving public health.

The idea is simple. Many adults do far less physical activity than is recommended, and for those who have not exercised for years, joining a gym or sports club can be intimidating and expensive. Walking requires no special skills, little equipment and no membership fee. Groups are usually led by trained volunteers who choose routes with level paths and plenty of places to rest, and who set a pace that allows everyone to keep up. Most groups welcome walkers of any age and fitness, and many end the walk with a cup of tea in a local café.

The physical benefits of regular walking are well established. It strengthens the heart, helps to control weight and blood pressure, and reduces the risk of developing a number of long-term conditions. For older people, walking can also improve balance and so lower the chance of falls, which are a major cause of hospital admissions. Dr Fiona Calder, a public health researcher who has followed several hundred group walkers over a period of five years, found that those who walked regularly in groups were more likely to keep up the habit than those who walked on their own.

This is perhaps the most important finding. Calder explains that the social side of walking groups helps people to keep going on days when they might otherwise stay at home. Members feel a sense of commitment to one another, and walk leaders often notice when someone has missed a few sessions and get in touch. Many walkers say they joined for their health but stayed for the company. For people who live alone, or who have recently retired or lost a partner, the weekly walk may be one of their few regular social contacts.

Health professionals have increasingly recognised this social dimension. In some areas, family doctors now practise what is called social prescribing: instead of, or alongside, medication, they refer patients to local activities such as walking groups, gardening projects or art classes. Patients with mild depression or anxiety, in particular, often report that they feel better after joining a group. Calder is careful to point out, however, that walking is not a substitute for medical treatment in more serious cases.

Exactly how many people take part is hard to measure, since many groups are informal and keep no records. One national network estimates that tens of thousands of people join its walks each week, and that most of them are women over the age of fifty-five. Organisers say that attracting men has proved harder, perhaps because men are less likely to see walking as exercise or to join activities advertised as being good for health. Some groups have responded by offering walks linked to local history or wildlife, which seem to appeal to a wider audience.

Walking groups face several challenges. Many rely entirely on volunteers, and when a key leader moves away or becomes ill, a group can quickly fold. Funding from councils has been cut in some areas, making it harder to train new leaders or advertise walks. There is also concern that the groups mainly attract people who are already fairly active and confident, while those who would benefit most, such as people on low incomes or from communities where walking for leisure is less common, remain hard to reach.

Some organisers are experimenting with new approaches. A few groups now offer walks designed for particular audiences, such as new parents with pushchairs, people recovering from illness, or speakers of a particular language. Others have formed partnerships with mosques, temples and community centres to reach people who might not respond to a poster in a doctor's surgery. Calder believes such efforts are essential. 'The walk itself is the easy part,' she says. 'The real work is making sure that everyone feels the invitation is meant for them.'