It has long been recognised by research that walking can be beneficial for both mental and physical health. To encourage more people to take up this activity, West Oxfordshire District Council’s (WODC) Community Wellbeing Team arranges Wellbeing Walks across the region, each one facilitated by a Wellbeing Walk Leader.
The Team is now hoping to expand this initiative and ensure more people across the District have access to a local walk. To that end, they are providing a free Wellbeing Walk Leader training session in Witney later in May and have invited interested Eynsham residents to participate.
Wellbeing Walks are intended to encourage people to be more active and have the confidence to get out walking and enjoy the outdoors in a safe way. Local, friendly group walks with a knowledgeable guide can be very attractive and it’s hoped they will help more people take up walking and improve their mental and physical health.
Hopefully local people were able to attend a training session held in May. If you missed it, there will be another Wellbeing Walk Leader training session on Tuesday 27 June. The session runs from 9am until midday, with the group meeting at Witney Artifical Turf Pitch (on Gordon Way in Witney). The training will be led by a Ramblers-qualified trainer and include a walk.
With many lovely walking areas around Eynsham, we feel that a local Wellbeing Walk would prove popular with the community. We hope some of our residents will be able to get involved, whether by training as a Leader or attending a subsequent Walk.
For more details on Wellbeing Walks and the training session, or to register your interest in attending, please contact Jenny Bennett on 01993 861564 or via Jenny.Bennett@westoxon.gov.uk.