footnotes summer 2013

Paths for All Volunteer Newsletter

Summer 2013

AwardingExceptionalVolunteers

Plus:• Attracting newwalkers• Technical tip

Local People

Local Paths

Incorporating

www.pathsforall.org.uk

2

Footnotes Summer 2013

Helping the environment and your healthWalkers and Volunteer Walk Leaders repeatedly tell us how muchthey enjoy becoming social butterflies as a result of walking.Group Health Walks offer opportunities to meet new people, visitinteresting places, attend social engagements, become moremotivated and productive at work. This rings true for CommunityPath volunteers too, who get a great sense of satisfaction from

improving their environment. Everyone can get involved in caring for their pathnetwork, for example, by clearing up after their dog orreporting any access problems to their local AccessOfficer. Light path maintenance such as cutting backshrubs can be undertaken, organising a litter pick orclean up can be a great team-building exercise. Thank you to every volunteer for getting Scotland

walking and becoming more active. I know I’ll be makingthe most of the longer summer days, walking and cyclingon the paths around Comrie, and I hope you, too, makethe most of the paths in your home town.

Ian Findlay Chief Officer

There are an estimated 120,000 children and

Volunteer Walk Leaders,Walking for Health SchemeCoordinators, HealthProfessionals, Social CareProfessionals and Long TermConditions Groups who

promote walking will nowbenefit from our CommunityPedometer Pack. Containing all the

resources for a 12 weekpedometer walking

programme, the pack willeasily help you motivate yourclients to enjoy walking.Contents includepedometers and walkingdiaries for 10 walkers, witheye catching posters andleaflets. Promoting your funfilled walking activities hasjust been made easier.The user-friendly pack is

based on research whichshows that people using apedometer for 12 weeks, aspart of a walking programme,can achieve lastingbehaviour changes.Please visit

www.pathsforall.org.uk/pedometer or call 01259 218888today to order your pack.

Motivational tool to help you promote walking


3 adults with learning disabilities in Scotland.

Cover starsThis edition’s cover starsare Hayley, Marie Claire,Jo, Eleanor and Angela.They are a lively team ofphysiotherapists fromNHS Western Isles whoare visibly enjoying ourWalk at Work Step CountChallenge (see ourfeature on page 5 formore details). Photograph by LuzSalazar.

To celebrate you, thefantastic volunteerssupporting our work, we are running our NationalVolunteer Awards.Nominations are now openfor the following categories:

Workplace volunteer of the year is for an employeeor colleague who promotesactive travel, organiseswalking meetings,pedometer challenges, andencourages the desk-boundto walk at lunchtime.

Health Walk volunteer ofthe year is for the leader of Health Walks who welcomes walkers week in, week out, in rain, hail or sunshine and keepseveryone smiling.

Volunteer Manager of theyear is for the SchemeCoordinator who organises

celebration events, trainingdays, and social activities tokeep volunteers and walkersmotivated.

Community path volunteerof the year is for the activist who brings fundingand people together to plan new routes, organisepath maintenance days, ordevelop promotionalmaterials.

Submit your nominations at:www.pathsforall.org.ukby 5pm on Friday 2ndAugust. The awards will be presented at a ParliamentaryEvent in Edinburgh. Allnominees and winners willbe invited to this engagingoccasion. Winners will bepresented with a certificate,voucher, commemorative gift and their projects willreceive £250 to spend ontheir volunteers.

All nominees will receive acertificate acknowledgingtheir valuable contribution.

Jackie Reid, Mary Hill HealthVisitors, Glasgow, winner of the2012 Workplace Volunteer of theYear Award, pictured withScottish Government PhysicalActivity Champion, Dr AndrewMurray. Jackie promoted walks atlunchtime, exercise activities andalso encouraged colleagues toeat healthily, helping to increasestaff productivity.

Awarding exceptional volunteers

Step It Up Highland’s new Health Walking group in Ballachulishwho walk for 10 – 20 minutes.

walkingyour way

4


31% of adults (1.27m people)

Community paths: One Stop Shop in actionA combined approach towards path development at Ardmore Point,Helensburgh.

Kevin and Fi, our Technicaland Local People LocalPaths Officers, recently setup a site visit and eveningworkshop through the OneStop Shop advisory service,for a group of committedvolunteers and enthusiasts inthe Helensburgh area to offeradvice and support to theirlocal path project at ArdmorePoint. The group took part in a

site visit of Ardmore Point toconsider the various aspectsof their path project. Inparticular the group lookedat areas where the pathcould be improved byvolunteer action dayscarrying out basicmaintenance tasks such as

vegetation clearance anddrainage issues. The groupalso discussed areas wherethe path has been damagedirreversibly through a rangeof problems including stormdamage, anti-socialbehaviour, and groundconditions where the pathhas disappeared completelyand will require a new path tobe constructed. The groupalso discussed the LocalNature Reserve status of thesite, which is very importantfor the local community andschool. After refreshments and a

chance to heat up after therain, the group participatedin a brainstorming/planningsession to identify all of the

aspects of their project thatthey will need to consider ifthey choose to take the pathproject forward.The group were facilitated

through the process andcreated an informed list ofpriorities, for moving forwardincluding: • Project planning • Funding and costs • Timescale • Nature reserve status • Project management • Volunteering options• Public engagement • Users and stakeholders • Anti-social behaviour and‘ownership’ of path

• Signage and interpretationto promote path

• Ongoing maintenance

The group are now workingwith Kevin to create afeasibility study for theirpath. Once completed theywill work with Fi to identify arange of funding options andwill create a realistic actionplan for the next year.

The group visiting Ardmore Point

If your group couldbenefit from the OneStop Shop Service,please get in touch with Kevin (technical) on 01259 222 330 or Fi (action planning,funding etc) on 01463 725 153.


5 in Scotland volunteer

Minister for CommonwealthGames and Sport, ShonaRobinson is lending hersupport. She told Foonotes:“Walking is the simplest andmost effective way to feelhealthier and happier andprovides a far greater rangeof health benefits than anymedication. The Step Countchallenge is a tremendousway of teaching peopleabout their everyday activityand the associated benefitsof more walking. I and four ofmy colleagues are taking theChallenge and there will nodoubt be a little competitionalong the way.”

Scottish workers step up in their thousandsMore than 2,500 employees from over 150 workplaces have signed up toour annual Walk at Work Step Count Challenge.

Lynne Black and the WalkingWarriors recreating the famousBeatles' Abbey Road cover in theUniversity of Stirling campus.

Carl Greenwood,Challenge Coordinatorbelieves workplaces areinfluential in supporting staffwellbeing and says: “Manypeople in Scotland go towork for an 8-hour sit down.Recent research shows thatonly 39% of Scottish adultsmeet the recommendedlevels of physical activity.The Step Count Challengewas devised to givemotivation, fun, and friendlycompetition amongstworkmates to encourage amore active lifestyle.”During the 8 week

Challenge each participantuses a pedometer tomeasure their daily StepCount. Paths for All gatherthe counts from each TeamCaptain, recording the grand

Helen Guthrie and her team, thePath Pounders, from Fife CouncilFinance Services showing offtheir pedometers.

Gemma Ryde from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at theUniversity of Stirling shot this picture of her team on a soggylunchtime walk.

total, and keeping walkersmotivated with progressupdates, tips, fantasticprizes, and team stories viaour popular blog atwww.pathsforall.org.uk

Our Chief Officer Ian Findlayis keen that the businessbenefits of an activeworkforce is realised. Hesays: “Increasing levels ofphysical activity amongst the workforce has beenshown to increase motivationand reduce sicknessabsences by 26%,potentially saving businessover £500 million.”If you want to set up your

own pedometer challenge orworkplace walking activitiesvisit: www.workplacewalking.org.uk


6 2.2 million – the number of working days

Walking is an adventure When Neil Andrew got involved with his HealthWalk Scheme Walk It in the Scottish Borders, henever imagined just how much he would enjoyvolunteering.

He told Footnotes: “When I saw a poster for Walk It in alocal shop in Innerleithen I had no idea where it would takeme. My wife and I joined the Innerleithen walkers for our firstFriday walk, from then on we have been regular walkers inour town. I decided I would take it one step further andbecome a Volunteer Walk Leader.I help out with walks in

other towns in the ScottishBorders such as Peebles,Lauder, and Newton StBoswells. It is a chance tosee how other areas organisetheir walks and meet thewalkers.”Neil has benefitted from

being a Volunteer WalkLeader through walkingmore, feeling in great shape,and making new friends. Hesays: “It has been a greatjourney. I look forward to what the future has in store. It’s alldue to Paths for All and Walk It.”

A life well livedPaths for All would like toexpress our sympathy to thefamily and friends of IsabelAitken, Volunteer Health WalkLeader, Castlemilk, Glasgowwho passed away inFebruary after a short illness.Walk Glasgow Scheme

Coordinator, HeatherMacLeod, told us: “Isobelbecame a Walk Leader in2009 and despite being abusy Gran looking after herGrandchildren, always foundtime to lead the CastlemilkHealth Walk every Tuesdayand Thursday as well asgetting involved in all theother Health Walk activitieson offer.

Moffat Better4walking group enjoying Craigieburn forest.

walkingyour way

A real champion of thewalks, her most recentactivity was to tell peopleabout her experience as aleader at the Paths for AllNetworking Event at theConcert Halls lastSeptember. Isobel was a wonderful,

positive person and will begreatly missed.”


7 lost to ill health in Scotland per year.

The heartand lungs of an athleteAnne Murray in Hamilton trained as a Volunteer Walk Leaderin 2002 with Walk a Little Live a Lot South Lanarkshire. Tenyears later her and her friends Anne Calder, Mary Murray,and Mary Neil enjoy walking socially every Mondayregardless of the weather.Walking in and around Hamilton they regularly visit

Strathclyde Country Park, Hamilton Palace, and many of theCovenanters sites. “We can be out for the whole morningwalking, having lunch, and enjoying the museum displays.We regularly reminisce about days gone by, and how thingsused to be” laughs Anne. Armed with their bus passes they have ventured further

afield with day trips to Milngavie, Dunfermline Abbey,and Dumfries House. Anne says: “We make gooduse of our bus tickets, and have become very goodfriends supporting each other. You need to haveconfidence to go on a day trip on your own. Wegive each other the confidence to get away andenjoy ourselves. My doctor told me: “You have the heart and

lungs of an athlete. I’m aged 80 and have walked all my life.” There’s no doubt about it, Anne and her friends have

benefitted from her attendance at a Paths for All trainingcourse. They have each other and the gift of walking.

Happy ladies from the Stirling Walking Network.

walkingyour way

Tell us about it To help you and your projectcommunicate with walkersand gather feedback wehave designed a selection ofengaging postcards. Pleaseask your SchemeCoordinator for a pack orspeak to your Paths for AllDevelopment Officer. Thefree postcards are availablein the Support / Merchandisesection at:www.pathsforall.org.uk

ValuablevolunteersThank you to you, ourvaluable volunteers, for yourtime, energy, andcommitment to gettingScotland more activethrough leading Health Walksor improving path routes.Together everyone isachieving more. We hopevolunteering enriches yourlife. If you have anysuggestions on how yourexperience could beimproved please [email protected] speak to Sheena Corcoran

on 01463 725156.

8


During 2012 more than

Key information such as theentry/exit points of a path,signs and way-markershighlighting the routeoptions, the terrainencountered, knowing thedistance and time towalk/cycle a route, orhighlighting any featuresalong a path can be essentialinformation to encouragethose with little knowledge ofan area, or a lack ofconfidence, to get out andexplore local paths. Last year Paths for All

piloted a Path PromotionGrant to help communitiespromote their local path.Successful groups wereawarded up to £1000 tocreate promotional materialsfor their local paths. Thegrants were spread acrossScotland and have resultedin a variety of signs, way-markers, signposts… andquite a few leaflets beingproduced to encouragepeople to be active at a locallevel. Earlston Paths Group in

the Scottish Borders wereone of the groups whoreceived funding to create anew leaflet to promote theirDiamond Jubilee Path. Thepath which follows the routeof the old ‘redpath’ (namedfor its high clay content) linksthe communities of Earlstonand Leaderfoot together andis seen as an essential linkfor locals and tourists alike.

The path was officiallyopened on the 23rdMarch 2013, beingslightly delayed due tofunding frustrationsand the harsh winter,but the group haverallied to ensure theleaflet and the pathhave been createdto the best of theirabilities. The grouphope the leaflet willbe well used by thelocals, and any visitors to thearea. The group also hope tocontinue to makeimprovements to the paththrough their local actiondays and the determinationof the local path volunteers(at the moment some of thepath is still suffering from thehorrid clay, and requiressome surfacing and drainageimprovements) The leaflet highlights the

4km route, along with startpoints, variations and linksinto the local wildlife andlocal history relating to themills which used the riveradjacent to the route. Thesnapshot of the map withinthe leaflet highlights thenature of the route, and thetasteful design of the leaflet. Additionally, the group

have worked hard to installsignage along the route toensure that people knowwhere to go. The groupcleverly used their successfulfunding applications to help

secure otherfunds to piece the wholepath, leaflet and signage‘package’ together. Perhapsmore impressively, they havesuccessfully funded abeautifully constructed otterchair, local volunteers havecarved a series of‘toadstools’ and otherinformal seats along theroute at scenic points, andthey even have a stone sofa– which is a lot comfier thanit sounds – down by the riverLeader. The good news is that

Paths for All have decidedthat the pilot has beensuccessful. Moving forwardwe will be incorporating pathpromotion into our ‘LocalPeople Local Paths Grants’.Additional information oncreating path promotionalmaterials can also be foundon the download section ofour website.

Promoting paths: encouraging more people to enjoy the outdoors


9 5,700 Health Walks were led

Ditchinghis doubtsHealth Walker GrahamBland tells Footnoteshow walking hashelped him to enjoy afuller life, after barelyleaving his flat for twoyears. “Due to a diagnosis ofunpredictable epilepsy someyears ago, I found myself avirtual recluse as I wasunwilling to leave my homefor fear of a black-out.Knowing that I had always

been a keen walker, JohnOswald of Stirling Counciltold me about the PeerGroup Walking Group set upand run by Stirling WalkingNetwork. He introduced meto their weekly walks inSeptember 2011.

The group helps me by: • overcoming my reluctanceto socialise

• boosting my confidenceand ability to go out alone

• giving at least one regularevent to focus on

• providing exercise at leastonce a week

The walks are notdemanding or over-long, but provide a gentleintroduction to getting outand about. In addition, some of the walks showedlocal places that I had notknown about.The meeting point, a cafe

in the centre of town, is

informal and well-chosen. Inow have the ability andconfidence to return to moredemanding walks, with orwithout company. Recently Ivisited real walking countryin the Highlands, and plan todo more extensive walks inthe coming year. This wouldhave been unthinkable forme the previous year.Without the Walking Group

it is very unlikely that I wouldhave had motivation topursue any activities, otherthan being home-alone andstuck with daytime TV.”

Walking away worriesStirling Council’s Peer Group supports adults withmoderate depression and anxiety by reintroducingactivities and providing volunteering opportunities. They decided to start a Health Walk group for clients.Stirling Walking Network helped to set up and run thewalks through providing advice, identifying routes, and providing Volunteer Walk Leaders trained by Paths for All.


10 Since 2002 PFA has distributed more than

“The Volunteer Walk Leadersand walkers discussed whenwould be the best time to dothe exercises. Some walkerswere not that keen on beingseen doing exercises out inthe open air! The Killearn Health Walk

Group opted to do theexercises in a local hallimmediately before theirwalk so that they could stillhave their tea and sconesafter the walk! This workswell as other local folk canjoin in without being tied tothe walk. This will hopefullyencourage more walkers inthe future. The rural Community walk

opted to do their exerciseson a different day when a

group of the walkers meetfor coffee. The third group, who meet

in Plean Country Park, dotheir exercises during andafter their walk. We certainly experienced

more success and take upwhere the walkers had aninput into the timing andvenue of the Strength andBalance exercises. In ourexperience they need todecide if it will be part oftheir Health Walk day or notin order to gain maximumsuccess. Access to a hall orcommunity centre ispreferable.”Walker Graham Sinclair is

very positive regarding theintegration of the Strength

Warmed up and raring to go Tricia Cumming, Walking and Older People’s Activity Co-ordinator atActive Stirling, describes how she worked with Stirling Walking Network’sVolunteer Walk Leaders and walkers from three Health Walk Groups, toembrace the Walk your Way to Better Strength and Balance exercises.

and Balance exerciseswithin his weekly HealthWalk. “We have for some time

now enjoyed the excellentcompanionship, exercise,and health giving enjoymentof our Thursday afternoonwalks, run by Active Stirlingas part of the StirlingWalking Networkprogramme.These walks have recently

been enhanced with theintroduction of the Strengthand Balance exercises.These exercises are donejust before the walk in thelocal Church hall so we areall warmed up and raring togo on the walk afterwards. Ithink it is a super idea tocombine the exercises withour walks. The soft and easyregime is simple, and yetenormously effective. I feelan absolute benefit and mybalance has significantlyimproved. Indeed, whilst Iconsider that my overallhealth has improved as aresult of the walks, I nowenjoy an added benefit fromdoing the exercises.”

Walkersstrengtheningtheir hips


11 £3 million to over 250 Health Walking Groups

To support projects workingto promote walking amongstolder adults we havelaunched Walk Your Way toBetter Strength andBalance. This programmeconsists of 10 simpleexercises such as knee

bends and toe raises, toperform at least twice aweek in conjunction with adaily walk. The developmentof this programme wassupported by expert advicefrom Professor DawnSkelton of Glasgow

Caledonian University, whois a world expert in activeageing. Step ForthCommunity Walking Projecthelped Paths for All tochoose the exercises whichare based on the widerOtago Falls PreventionProgramme.Walkers from Stirling

Walking Network who wereinvolved in trialling how bestto integrate the Strength andBalance exercises into theirexisting weekly Health Walksdiscovered:“My balance when

walking has greatlyimproved. I feel much moreconfident, and I don’twobble nearly so much. Ican carry my cup of coffeewithout spilling it!”“I have found the “tip toe”

exercises useful. I can nowreach up to my high shelves,and I no longer need to askfor help.”“A great way to help

yourself to stayindependent, and improveyour overall health”Our Walk Your Way to

Better Strength andBalance toolkit includes aset of laminated cue cardsfor easy demonstrationalong with a take homeleaflet for participants. Thematerials are available [email protected] andare priced as shown in thetable (left). Visitwww.pathsforall.org.uk forfurther information.

Raise a toe to better balance

Walkers strengtheningtheir knees

Starter Pack – 5 cue cards,100 leaflets, 20 promotional flyersStrength and Balance cue cardsLeafletsPromotional flyerStrength and Balancetraining workshop half day(includes lunch). Dates tobe announced.

Free to Paths for AllWalking for HealthCommunity Schemes£5 each

20p eachFree£50 per delegateor free for Volunteer WalkLeaders and Paths for AllScheme Coordinators

Combining strength and balance exercises with walking can aid functional fitness, and reduce falls in older adults.

12


40% of Scottish adults have

Overcoming obstacles Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol (DACA) is a charity set up in 1976 tosupport people living in West Dunbartonshire affected by alcohol misuse.

The charity provides a rangeof services including 1-1counselling and an informaldaily group work programmewhich includes our Walk andTalk Group.Since we started funding

the Walk and Talk Group inApril 2012 the group hasgone from strength tostrength.To try and encourage more

clients who had never beenon a walk before to join thegroup, DACA recentlyintroduced their Wee Walks.These are short 20 minute,opportunistic walks whichtake place during theinformal morning group whenthe weather is good. Staff, volunteers and some

former DACA clients havealso completed the WalkLeader training whicheveryone found extremelyenjoyable and informative.Following the training,

Steven Kennedy, a formerclient with DACA, startedvolunteering with the Walkand Talk group as a WalkLeader, and also takingphotos of the walks. He said: “I really enjoy

helping with the group, thecompany is great, and I feelthat I am helping others toovercome obstaclesthemselves. I find it really rewarding,

that’s what I like most – the

fact that I am helping othersget out and about; they’remeeting different people andso am I. The Walk Leader training

was something new for me; Ienjoyed it because everyoneseemed to help each otherduring the course.”The volunteering has also

helped Steven move on inhis own life as he has justbeen successful in gainingfull-time employment.Cathie Dennett, director of

DACA, said: “The walkinggroup has a really positiveimpact on the lives ofeveryone who takes part –whether client, staff memberor volunteer. The physical activity, fresh

air and the companionship

on the walks help our clientsrelax and also helps improvetheir sleep patterns whichcan often be a problem forpeople affected by alcoholmisuse.The Wee Walks have

been a real hit with clientsgoing out almost daily on the shorter walks, and wehave already had some Wee Walkers enquiring about Walk Leader trainingwhich we hope to offer againnext year.I would like to thank

everyone at Paths for All forall the support and advicewe have received – it hasbeen a fantastic partnershipwhich has made a realdifference to many of ourclients.”

DACA's Walk and Talk group enjoying a brisk walk in Balloch Park,Dunbartonshire. Photo: Steven Kennedy.


13 a long term health condition

None so blind as thosewho will not seeThank you to Brian Henry for his honesty about becoming an inclusive Walk Leader with Walk It in the Scottish Borders.

“When I was asked to: Lead a group of people around thetown on a short walk, I said: “No bother”. Then Spencer arrived. He has been blind since he was

in his late twenties. On the day he turned up to join ourWalking Group I seriously wondered how to handle this. He has no carer and some of the routes we use are ‘off-road’ through little woodlands with uneven paths.Initially I stayed back.

Could I be responsible forguiding a blind man who I did not know and was notsure of his abilities? Could I be sure that he would besafe with me? Then the day came when

there was no one else toassist him. I had to step up tothe mark. I have passed theAdvanced Motorists test andin that you are required togive a commentary aboutyour observations andactions being taken. This was on another level:Stepping off the kerb; backonto the kerb; car parked onright with big wing mirror;bush with overhangingbranches; duck slightly; tooclose to people in front andso on.We now know Spencer

very well and some of ourwalkers also take turnsescorting him. It turned out that Spencer

has a disability, but is not adisability.”

Spencer and Brian

Embracing everyoneWe offer a one dayDisability Inclusion Training Course for WalkLeaders to learn how to make Health Walksinclusive. This course is delivered by ScottishDisability Sport inpartnership with us.Comments from leaderswho have completed thecourse include:“The practical walking

sessions were very useful,

especially the second onewith the walking aids. Welldelivered and trainers veryenthusiastic – aninteresting course.”“Practical sessions made

me evaluate my personalpractice at leading andplanning walks.”Contact your Scheme

Coordinator or Paths for AllDevelopment Officer formore information on how tobook this training.

14


95% of the Scottish population

Phototrails: capture theessential information on your path, so as manypeople as possible can enjoy it! Last year we worked in partnership with the Fieldfare Trustto develop a series of training courses for communitygroups and Health Walk Schemes that were looking toimprove the accessibility of local paths for different users,including those with disabilities. Phototrails are a means of describing paths which we’d

like to share with you. Information on phototrails can beaccessed via the Fieldfare Trust’s dedicated websitewww.phototrails.org/ This simple method of recording the condition of a path

uses a series of images taken along a route, to help peopleto decide whether a path is suitable for their needs andability. Key aspects of the recording focus on: • path surface (e.g. tarmac) • the type of terrain (flat, hilly etc) • exit/entry onto the path • any barriers along the route – such as motorbike inhibitorsor gates

• any amenities – such as seats, picnic tables, signposts

Once you have all of your images, it is easy to upload theseonto the website. Youcan then map thelocation of your pathand tag where eachimage is taken usinga suitable symbol.This data can becollated usingimages taken with asmartphone. The excerpt

shown, from apopular phototrailin Easterhouse,Glasgow,highlights howthe images andsymbols can be used topromote the condition of a local path.

Honeyand nutenergybars

Ingredients100g porridge oats25g chopped peanuts25g sunflower seeds1 tbsp sesame seeds100g puffed rice cereal100g currants or raisins50g chopped driedapricots50g peanut butter50g light brown sugar75g honey1/2 tsp vanilla extractA pinch of salt

Preparation1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Grease a baking tray.3. Spread the oats,peanuts and seeds on alarge, rimmed bakingsheet. Bake until lightlytoasted (about 10minutes), shaking thepan halfway through.Transfer to a large bowl.

4. Mix in fruit and cereal.5. Combine the peanutbutter, sugar, honey,vanilla and salt in a smallsaucepan. Heat overmedium-low, stirringfrequently, until themixture bubbles lightly.

6. Pour the mixture overthe dry ingredients andmix until no dry spotsremain. Transfer to theprepared tray and pressdown to make an evenlayer. Refrigerate untilfirm then cut into bars.


15 will visit their GP within 3 years

Volunteer Walk Leaders havean important role in projectevaluation. Completing allthe paperwork is only oneaspect. Reporting thechanges seen in walkers is avalid method of assessingthe impact of Health Walks. Here is a description from

Volunteer Walker Leaderswith Cairngorms Walking toHealth in Kingussie whonoted an increase in thewellbeing and sociability oftheir walkers, some of whomhave learning difficulties.This extract was used in anevaluation report."The Kingussie walkers are

a very cheery bunch. Theywalk in virtually all weathers,including sub-zero

temperatures! The coregroup are all regularattendees who obviouslylook forward to the walks,and enjoy the new placesand challenges which thewalks provide. Two walkers have

noticeably improved theirmobility with the remainderbeing already good walkers.The most noticeableimprovements for some arein respect of confidence,sociability, chat andintegration into the localcommunity, particularly atthe after-walk trip to theCafe. As leaders we see thisas a very positive andsatisfying development butimpossible to measure. In

our opinion this markedimprovement is attributableto the Health Walks.The Creag Bheag walk,

although not a Health Walk,would not have beenattempted without the HealthWalks. The satisfaction andsense of achievement of the walkers was tremendousto see.It is also fair to say that the

Leaders gain muchenjoyment and satisfactionfrom walking with our group."Kingussie Community

Development Companysecured £847 from us toimprove part of the CreagBheag path. Some of theDevelopment Companymembers are pictured.

Notice the difference in your walkers

Inspired by their weeklyHealth Walk, members ofKingussie Health WalkGroup reached thesummit of Creag Bheag,Kingussie.

16


Woods with no vandalism, good paths, clear

AttractingnewwalkersVolunteer Walk Leaders,Scheme Coordinators andother Health Professionalsenjoyed learning the resultsof research, part funded byus, on recruiting walkers.Speakers were Dr. AilsaNiven and Nicky Laing,Edinburgh University and Dr.Graham Brennan,Strathclyde University. Weorganised this informativeevent to share learning,encourage networking andinspire new ideas. Learning points on the

day included:

Make a recruitment planAsk yourself specificallywho, what, where, when,and why you are recruiting.

Share the health benefitsof walkingPeople will join a HealthWalk if they believe in thebenefits of walking. In otherwords, let people know howwalking can help with avariety of illnesses.

Ask people to take partRecruitment means askingpeople questions using amixture of techniques.

Have a welcome plan fornew walkersThe social aspect of walkingand continuing to walk isextremely important.

Encourage and celebratewith walkersRemind walkers how wellthey are doing attending aweekly walk, and how goodit makes them feel.

Joan Hannah, a VolunteerWalk Leader from NithsdaleWalking Works, Dumfriesand Galloway said, “I feltvalued by being at this typeof event. The people around my table and at themeeting were helpful andinformative.”

Linda Nelson, also aVolunteer Walk Leader fromNithsdale Walking Works

added, “I thoroughly enjoyed the event as I got tomeet lots of people thatwere also aware we need toget people out walking. Theevent was well structuredand it was interesting to heardifferent views from all. Icame out of the conferencefeeling very positive aboutencouraging people to walkmore.”

Look on our websitewww.pathsforall.org.ukunder “Recruiting Walkers”for links to the presentationsand research. A GuidanceNote on Recruiting Walkersis currently in production byPaths for All.

Delegates keeping active

Just ask Ask family and friends ifthey would like tobecome a Volunteer WalkLeader or walk with yourgroup.


17

Navigating the west coastThe conversation and cup of tea often lasts longer than thewalk for the Killearn Health Walking Group! Being such asocial bunch, twelve members decided to organise aweekend away to Arduaine Gardens, Oban last summer.Super social organiser, June, has kindly shared their fun

with Footnotes: “Lunch by the Crinan Canal watching theboats sail through the lock was followed by a sumptuousdinner in the Loch Melfort Hotel, Oban. The chat as everwas spirited – no need for alcohol to loosen our tongues,and as we exchanged stories, found acquaintances incommon, and discussed the state of the nation, the sunmade a fleeting appearance and gave a promise of things tocome.Needless to say, this being a wet soggy summer, it was

raining on Saturday morning. Nevertheless the intrepidwalkers donned their wet weather gear and set off forArduaine Gardens. The walk was to take an hour and a half,reaching a viewpoint from which could be seen Mull, Jura,and other islands in between.Our Thursday Health Walk Leader, Shelagh, was not with

us, but was in nearby Ardfern on a boat. We had agreed tomeet for lunch at the Crafty Kitchen, whose staff copedremarkably well with a sudden influx of 14 people. By nowthe sun was out and after lunch we walked round the marinashedding layers and basking in the warmth. Soaked in the morning, scorched in the afternoon,

(steaming in the evening?) that’s Scotland for you!”

Pictured are June and Alistair, Muriel and John, Campbell and Janet,Marjorie and Alastair, Ann and George, and Graham and Edna,walkers with Killearn Health Walking Group who organised their tripthemselves.

Update your skills If it has been three or moreyears since you attendedyour Volunteer Walk Leadertraining then you might beinterested in our VolunteerWalk Leader Refreshertraining. Contact yourScheme Coordinator toregister your interest inupdating your skills. Please visit the TrainingSection of our website at:www.pathsforall.org.uk tofind out more.

WalkerrecruitmentideaThe Killearn HealthWalking Group (featuredleft: Navigating the west coast) has as manymen walking as ladiesbecause the wives haveencouraged theirhusbands to come along.Why not ask your walkersto bring their partner, afriend or a neighbour totheir Health Walk?

signposts and leaflets attract more visitors

18


We are the tortoise walkers Assembled here again All eager to begin

We came by bus Or Shank's pony Limping down the lane

As if we're childrenWho've grown oldThey must register our nameAnd count us inAnd count us outAnd count us back again

With good stout shoesAnd walking sticksFor many of the lameOur hats and glovesAnd hearing aidsWe wear with little shame

We are the tortoise walkersAll set to begin

With bus passAt the readyWe board the forty-fourBack we go through Juniper Green Passing my front door

We alight a few stopsDown the roadTo traverse an old mill run

Beneath autumn trees Turned to gold Come memories of oldI want to runAnd skip and hopAnd go kicking up the leaves

But we are the tortoise walkers There's no time for such delay We must get underway

We talk of nothing much This and that, thus and so, Such and such and such

As we hurry at tortoise paceBeside the old mill race I spy a sight to my delight

Cascading down the hill A waterfall of deepest green The greenest green I've ever seen And collected in a rocky pool A virtual verdant sheen Of equally wondrous hue

I lean upon my stick To contemplate This really lovely view

But find the tortoise walkers Who've reached the final hill Are by now all standing still

We keep the pace of the slowest So I know it must Be time to go

We are the tortoise walkers So we toil on up the hill Having done the full mile We can all smile

As we board the forty-four Back to the Old Mill door

There we rest our weary feetAnd choose a nice cream bun to eat

©Vera CoghillNovember 2012

The tortoise walkersVera wrote this poem after her first walk with The Tortoise Walkers in Balerno Footsteps 4Fitness, Edinburgh, who have three Health Walk groups. The Tortoise Walkers support olderwalkers aged between 70 to 80 years to keep active.

Walking one mile


19

Technical tip: removing pools of water onpaths due to raised vergesOn many paths in Scotlandthe verges along the side ofpaths have been constructedto be level with the path.However, problems canoccur as the grass andshrubs on path verges growwith each season, whichresults in them becominghigher than the path, whichcan trap pools of water whenit rains forming muddysections of path.Most people using paths

will have noticed muddypuddles, but may not havethought about how they haveformed. If the puddles arecaused by high verges, thenit is an easy problem to solveby creating a ‘V’ shapedopen ditch through theverge, called a grip (it canalso be referred to as a lett)with a spade or shovel. Our Technical Officer,

Kevin Fairclough hasprovided some keyinformation on creating gripsto help you improve thedrainage on your local paths.

Function of gripsGrips drain standing wateron a path surface into a sideditch, or onto site areaswhere the water can soakaway into the ground. Theyare relatively cheap andsimple to install, but dorequire regular inspectionand maintenance to keepthem functioning properly.

Grips should, however, beavoided if the verges areused for horse riding - theycan create a trip hazard.

Positioning of gripsGrips are generallypositioned at the lowestpoints along the path edges,where water stands on thepath surface after heavyrainfall. On level paths, gripscan be positioned about 15to 30 metres apart.

Construction of gripsA grip is a simple drainagefeature comprising of earthor turf base and sides. Gripsshould be least 300mm deepand 300mm wide at the baseand least 450mm - 500mmwide at the top with 45ºsloping sides. Thesedimensions will provideplenty of room for clearingout the channel with aspade.

TechniqueStarting at the side ditch diga 'V' shaped ditch, workingbackwards through theraised verge, towards thepath – maintain a gooddraining fall line along thedug ditch from the side ditchto the path edge. Aim to:• Keep the ditch deep andwide enough – angle thesides to 45º.

• Keep the ditch bottom leveland even whilstmaintaining a constantdraining fall line towardsthe side ditch – avoidcreating low and highpoints by digging too deepor too shallow.

• Keep the ditch straight toallow good water flow toside ditch or site areawhere the water will soakaway into the ground.

For more information oncreating a grip, or on solvinga drainage issue on yourlocal path please visit the‘developing and managingpaths’ section of our websiteor contact Kevin via email:[email protected]

burns 100 calories


Paths for All is a partnership organisation, for a full list of our current partners please visit: www.pathsforall.org.ukPaths for All Partnership is a recognised Scottish Charity No: SC025535 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No: 168554incorporated 19 September 1996 at Companies House, Edinburgh. Registered Office: Inglewood House, Tullibody Road, Alloa FK10 2HU.

Contact usPaths for All (Head Office), FREEPOST SCO6890, Alloa FK10 2BRTel: 01259 218 888 Paths for All (North Office), Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NWTel: 01463 725 152 email: [email protected] • website: www.pathsforall.org.uk

If your contact details change or you’dlike to receive Footnotes via e-mail pleaselet us know at: [email protected] on 01259 218 888

Unscramble these five health conditionswalking helps to reduce.

Health conditions quiz

Keep up to date with us on Twitter at:Twitter.com/PathsforAll

NNR’s competition winnerCongratulations to Peter Buck, VolunteerWalk Leader with Put Your West FootForward, West Lothian who won a £20Amazon Voucher for answering theNational Nature Reserve Quiz correctly.

R O S T E K

C C R N E A

D E I S B T E A

H R T I T I S R A

T E L H A HL E N M A T

Not far? Leave the car and feel betterThe Scottish Government’s new ActiveTravel Campaign encourages car drivers toimprove their environment and own healthby walking or cycling for short journeys of 2miles or less. Mile for mile, short car tripscreate the most carbon dioxide emissions. With TV, radio, outdoor advertising, social

media, an information road show acrossScotland, and a free iPhone app, you canuse the “Not far? Leave the car”, campaignto support your walkers, staff, or path groupmembers to change their transport habits. For further information visit

www.greenerscotland.org.uk

Send your answers by 26th July to:[email protected] or to ourFreepost Alloa address to win a £20Schuh footwear voucher.

footnotes summer 2013

Documents

result of walking

walking programme

volunteer walk leaders

walking footnotes summer

volunteer newslettersummer

workplace volunteer

funfilled walking activities

volunteer manager of