Learning from practice

Best Foot Forward is a programme of weekly-guided health walks across the Nottingham City area.

There is a team of volunteer walk leaders who have been trained (through the national 'Walking the Way to Health' initiative) to lead eight weekly-guided health walks across Nottingham City.

It has received £2,000 originally and this has helped the scheme provide training for volunteer walk leaders, provide equipment such as rucksacks, firstaid kits and stepometers for the walk leaders and walkers.

It has also used this to produce leaflets detailing information about all of the local walks. Best Foot Forward runs monthly volunteer walk leaders meetings to support the volunteers and promote the project.

Each quarter we measure:
 the number of walk leaders trained
 the number of individuals taking part in the walks
 the number of referrals made from primary care teams
 the numbers attending walks

In year one the scheme trained 22 volunteer walk leaders and the project comprises 329 walkers.

It receives many positive comments about the social and mental health benefits the walkers feel alongside the many physical benefits of promoting regular physical activity.

The social element is very important and after each walk there is usually an opportunity to get together and have a drink. Many people who are isolated or who are worried about walking alone really do enjoy and benefit from the walks.


Taken from IDeA’s ‘Year of healthy communities’ calendar - a year's worth of practical inspiration on simple steps you can take to promote health across a wide range of services.
• www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=4425634
IDeA is the improvement and development agency for local government
• www.idea.gov.uk