Walking with Authority

Walkers in East Staffordshire are now an official part of a national Walking for Health scheme after local volunteers were awarded accreditation from the initiative’s partners.

Walking for Health East Staffordshire, which is co-ordinated by volunteers on the Walking for Health committee and supported by East Staffordshire Borough Council, has been awarded accreditation by Walking the way to Health, a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation.

Walking for Health East Staffordshire became an accredited scheme on Monday, June 16th, having successfully demonstrated that they meet the required criteria.

This includes offering led walks for beginners, meeting the “Walking the way to Health” safety and insurance standards for all walks and collecting basic monitoring information.

As an accredited scheme, Walking for Health East Staffordshire will benefit from being seen as part of a nationally evaluated scheme as well as being formally recognised by health professionals, prospective partners and funders.

Councillor Philip Atkins Deputy Leader for Health and Leisure, said: “Residents can enjoy these walks while getting regular healthy exercise. This can also be a catalyst for many other aspects of health, such as healthy eating, stopping smoking and relaxation.

“The accreditation gives our scheme the stamp of approval that we are doing the right thing and our walks are accessible for beginners.”

William Bird, Strategic Health Advisor for Natural England said: “The new accreditation scheme has been essential in ensuring high standards across the Walking the way to Health network and providing frontline health professionals with added confidence when referring their patients on.”

Walking for Health welcomes new walkers throughout the year. If you’d like to walk with Walking for Health East Staffordshire:

Current walks take place on:
·    St James Church, barton under Needwood on Mondays at 10.15am
·    Meadowside Leisure Centre, Burton upon Trent on Mondays at 11.30am
·    stapenhill Gardens on Tuesdays at 10:30am
·    stretton on Tuesdays at 2.00pm
·    Shobnall Leisure Complex, Burton on Trent on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 10am
·    Yoxall Health Centre on Wednesdays at 11am
·    tutbury Health Centre on Thursdays at 10am
·    Uttoxeter Leisure Centre on Thursdays at 10am

If you would like further information on Walking For Health in Burton upon Trent and East Staffordshire, to join our walks or become a volunteer walk Leader contact Patricia Newman, East Staffordshire Borough Council on 01283 505 916.

Many of the walks and other leisure activities in the Burton upon Trent area appear regularly on the InBurton what’s on page which you can find HERE.

Return to InBurton.co.uk

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