Health Walks are short organised walks, led by trained volunteers from the local community.
Designed with health in mind they can improve both physical and mental health by offering a safe,
friendly and supported environment where everyone can walk at their own pace and not be left
behind to walk alone. There is also opportunity to socialise with refreshments at the end of the walk!
Inactivity is as big a cause of heart disease as smoking and joining a Health Walk can contribute
towards increasing your level of activity. Walking for half an hour five times a week can help to:
1. Halve the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack);
2. Maintain an ideal weight and help with weight loss;
3. Improve co-ordination, flexibility and muscle strength, which can help to reduce the risk of falls for older people.
4. Reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes;
5. Cut the risk of suffering a stroke by one third;
6. Ease depression and anxiety;
7. Help to reduce high blood pressure.
In addition, walking can make you feel good, give you more energy and help you sleep better.
Health Walks are perfect for beginners, for those who would like to become more active or perhaps lack the
confidence and knowledge about where to walk. Many of the walks have a variety of routes and offer the
opportunity to move onto more challenging walks as fitness increases. However, there will always be a short,
unchallenging walk on offer for those who need it and all walks are supported by volunteer walk leaders.
There are various local walks around the county and we are continually looking to expand the walking programme,
but as walks are primarily led by volunteers we are limited by the number of volunteers we have! So, if you enjoy
walking and meeting people and have a little spare time why not think about being trained as a volunteer walk leader?
Current walks are in the following locations and you can contact the organiser of each scheme to find out more details:
| Abingdon |
Viv Boorman |
01235 554751 |
| Cherwell area (Banbury, Begbroke, Bicester,
Bloxham, Hook Norton, Kidlington,
Kings Sutton, Thrupp, Woodstock) |
Wendy Kingsbeer |
01295 221628 |
| Benson |
Margaret Wiggall |
01491 838286 |
| Botley |
Briony Newport |
01865 246497 |
| Carterton |
Town Council |
01993 842156 |
| Didcot |
Robin McStay
Beryl Hartley |
01235 835358
01235 813669 |
| Faringdon |
Brian Conroy |
01993 704007 |
| Goring |
Bernard Novell |
01491 873092 |
| Henley |
Fran Piggott
Brian Maunder |
01491 578610
01491 573722 |
| Kennington |
Eileen Rodgers
Rosemary Aldgate |
01865 739173
01865 735419 |
| Marston |
Sarah Brown |
01865 750105 |
| Milton-under-Wychwood |
Beryl Taylor
David Trollop |
01993 830065
01993 831146 |
| Oxford (Blackbird Leys) |
Maxine |
01865 467020 |
| Oxford (Botley Road) |
Susanna Pressel |
01865 554001 |
| Oxford (Summertown) |
N.Oxford Community Ass. |
01865 552295 |
| Sonning Common |
Jill Greenwood
Anne Symons |
0118 972 2441
0118 972 3389 |
| Southmoor |
Cathy Fletcher |
01865 820193
|
| Thame |
Anne Lister |
01844 215034 |
| Wantage & Grove |
Stephanie Edlington |
01235 767834 |
| Witney |
Brian Conroy |
01993 704007 |
If you would like more general information on Health Walks, how to set up a scheme in your area, or information on
how to volunteer and access free training as a walk leader, please contact Kate King, Public Health, Oxfordshire PCT on
01865 336872
kate.king2@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk
or Brian Conroy, Community Development Officer, Social & Community Services
on 01993 704007
brian.conroy@oxfordshire.gov.uk