By Gill Stewart at
Walking can be life changing and there are many organisations who share our vision when it comes to encouraging people of all ages and abilities to walk more
What are Community Walx?
Community Walx are about finding non-medical ways to improve health and happiness. It recognizes that sometimes the best medicine isn’t a pill but a walk in nature, a supportive community, or the chance to try something new, and can include Yoga or Pilates. Whether it’s managing stress, reducing loneliness, or supporting physical health, social prescribing connects people with activities and experiences that nourish both body and mind.
The Benefits
Community Walx can transform how participants feel, physically and emotionally:
We love working in partnership and in 2024 we forged lots of new initiatives with community groups and social prescribers – our six week plans proving to be a great tool for engaging with those in need of support with activity levels. The team at WALX HQ help local groups to join forces, apply for funding and create bespoke programmes for a range of clients from the elderly and socially isolated to those with specific medical conditions. Total body walking includes the use of poles for full body engagement but also includes gait and posture work, strength and balance drills and lifestyle advice too.
Here are just a few of the programmes and projects we have supported recently with our Community WALX training and programmes…………
Two partnerships between London based WALX groups and Leisure or green space trusts led to very successful wellness walking programmes which are rolling into their second year – both were funded by the Transport for London Foundation through their Walking and Cycling Grants project in September 2023.
WALX with Harrow striders ( run by Sue Collen) partnered with the Friends of Canons Park to encourage people with long term conditions to get into regular walking through the innovative WALX Total Body Walking Programme. The walking project ran from March to July 2024 and from the 48 who participated, 45 attended at least 4 out of 6 weeks of the programme. 26 people completed the whole programme and many of those now join regular total body walking sessions or walk in their own time with the poles they gained as part of the process. Feedback has been very positive.
“I’ve really enjoyed the course as I’m not a motivated walker and it’s felt good to get back into a routine. I can really see a visible difference, I can feel more purpose in my walking because nobody teachers you to walk so I’ve enjoyed it.”
WALX BEXLEY partnered with local Leisure provider Lex Leisure to deliver the six week plans to residents.Through May – September of Year 1, the project engaged 41 adults in the WALX 6-week Plan, with 22 participants signing up to a monthly package with WALX BEXLEY after the Plan (54% conversion). 78% of participants were signposted from the Steps to Health Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, following a referral from their GP.
The co-ordinator from WALX BEXLEY (Helen Sadique) delivered Discovery sessions and WALX trained 2 further Cardiac Rehabilitation professionals, further strengthening the signposting-to and uptake-within the WALX programme. 7 volunteers and participants completed the Community WALX Leader training which will support with the delivery, expansion and legacy of the project.
“I have found all the instructors very helpful + professional. Since joining the walking groups it has been improving my attitude to fitness”
You can read the more about the programmes and see more testimonials HERE.
Cathy Fort who runs her WALX with Core Vision group in Shrewsbury is a former Nurse. She delivers 6 week total body walking programmes which include poles walking, strength, balance and mobility exercise as part of her connections with the local social prescribing hub.
She offered 6 x 90minute sessions of Total body walking and exercise in the park and surrounding area. This was funded through various charities including lottery funding. The community hub purchased strapless poles and advertised these walks to their members and the community and paid Cathy to deliver the courses.
If an individual needed the support of a carer they were welcomed into the group and the Social hub Wellbeing and Befriending facilitator also came along to support as well as a volunteer. Cathy has now run x2 successful programmes and is about about to run a third programme. Read more about the project HERE
Absolutely fabulous time. I struggle with my knees and exercise terribly due to arthritis, I was also a little nervous as I had never done anything like this before. Cathy made me feel totally at ease straight away, showed us all in the group some fantastic techniques, walking with the poles. I couldn’t believe how far I could walk and with no pain, the poles took all the pressure. Met some fabulous people and non of us were left behind, whatever our level of fitness or ailments. Cathy was knowledgeable and made all of us feel at total ease. It really was such a wonderful experience.
If you would like more information about groups in your area or how to link up with a WALX group to set a similar project up – call WALX HQ on 0333 1234 540 or e mail gill@walx.co.uk