DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR WORTHING WALKING FOR HEALTH GROUPS

The Worthing walking for health scheme has reason to celebrate twice over because it recently achieved Natural England’s prestigious Walking for Health Accreditation status for its three walking groups who are also about commemorate their tenth anniversary in August this year. To mark the occasion and celebrate the achievements of the last ten years the Worthing walking for health scheme is holding an anniversary walk, which the Mayor, Ann Barlow, will attend along with a representative of Natural England.

The walk takes place on Sunday 14^th August 2011 starting at 10am at the western end of the promenade to health at Sea Lane, Ferring or at Marine Gardens. This gives two options of a 3 ½ mile or 1 ½ mile walk. Anybody is welcome to join the regular health walkers and enjoy a refreshing walk along the seafront. All those attending will receive a certificate for completing the route. The event will conclude at the Cornerstone Methodist Church, Steyne Gardens with light refreshments.

All walkers are asked to register by 9.40am at either of the 2 start points.

For details contact:-Gill (Worthing Walking Groups) on 01903 539655 or Annabelle Adur & Worthing Councils on 01273 263347

Photograph shows representatives of the three Walking Groups with the Accreditation certificates

Left to right: Roger Jupp & John Nutt, Durrington Walkers, David Wakefield & Barbara Brook, Broadwater Strollers, Gill Tucker & Paul Mansfield, Heene Walkers

The Natural England Walking for Health Accreditation process ensures that Walking Schemes deliver to a high standard so that potential partners, funders, and health care professional along with prospective walkers have confidence about what to expect and reassurance that the walks in the area are of a good quality. Accredited schemes must meet three key criteria: offering health walks for beginners, meeting Walking for Health safety standard for all walks and collecting basic monitoring information.

The Worthing Walking to Health Scheme was set up by the Council in August 2001 with funding support obtained through the walking to health initiative which was subsequently taken over by Natural England when it was created in 2006. There are now three independent health walk groups based in Broadwater, Durrington and Heene which offer individuals the opportunity to be more active in a friendly and sociable environment. In 2003 the Council opened the Promenade to Health along Worthing seafront a part of which will form the route for the Anniversary Walk.

There is extensive evidence about the benefits of walking which can:

Make you feel good

Give you more energy

Reduce stress and help you sleep better

Keep your heart ‘strong’

Reduce blood pressure

Help you to manage your weight

Walking is the perfect activity for health because:

Almost everyone can do it

You can do it anywhere and any time

It is a chance to make new friends

It is free and you don’t need special equipment

You can start slowly and build up gently

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