October 13 2010
Exercise scheme walks away with award.
Wolverhampton’s popular Walking for Health scheme has
scooped a Black Country award for its efforts to improve
the health of local people by encouraging them to take more
exercise.
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The awards celebrate the diversity and quality of sport and
physical activity in the Black Country and are open to schemes in
Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The Change4Life
award was one of 16 presented at a ceremony last week and Walking
for Health beat off stiff competition from projects in Dudley and
Sandwell to win the category.
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The scheme was launched in 2001 and over 700 people now
regularly take part in weekly walks in a range of areas
across the city. Hayley Scott, walking for health co-ordinator for
Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, said: “We are absolutely
thrilled to have won this award which recognises not only the
significant effects that the walking scheme has had on people’s
health and wellbeing but also the dedication of the volunteers who
lead the walks and the enthusiasm and commitment of the walkers who
take part each week. “It will be the tenth anniversary
of the Walking for Health scheme next April and this award is like
an early birthday present!”
The scheme – which runs over 30 free health walks in the
city each week– came top in the Change4life category at the Black
Country Sports and Physical Activity Awards.
The criteria for the Change4life award were an individual, club,
organisation, project or partnership that has made a significant
contribution to improving health through physical activity;
effectiveness at creating new opportunities for more people to take
up or help sustain physical activity; targeted work at engaging
people at risk through inactivity, especially those from hard to
reach groups; an inspiration and example of best practice for
others; and dedication and commitment from all those involved.
Award-winning walks volunteers given smart new
uniforms
New uniforms have been issued to 100 Walking for Health
volunteers who run dozens of keep fit community walks in
Wolverhampton every week.
The smart turquoise polo shirts and black fleece tops both
branded with the Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyles logo will be worn
by leaders of around 40 weekly walks in the city's communities.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the walks, which attract
thousands of people every year and are growing more and more
popular as residents work to improve and keep their fitness.
Walks have been staged for more than 10 years, but the service
has now amalgamated with the Healthy Lifestyle initiative at the
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT).
It means all Healthy Living Services, including quit smoking and
personal health checks, are all provided under one banner.
The Walking for Health service was named the Best Volunteer Team
at the RWHT Awards ceremony at the Molineux stadium.
Health Trainer Andrew Tomlinson said: Regular walking is a great
way to keep fit and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and
stroke, so it is an important part of Wolverhamptons Healthy
Lifestyles programme.
The new uniforms are very smart and clearly identify the leaders
of our walks.
Everyone is welcome to join in with the walks which offer
regular exercise and an opportunity to meet people and make new
friends.
Timetables of the walks that take place each week are available
by emailing: rwh-tr.walkingforhealth@nhs.net
or by calling freephone: 0800 073 4242.