After being hosted by the Primary Care Trust for five years, Walking to Health has found a new home at Havant Borough Council.  Walking to Health is part of the National scheme, Walking the Way to Health (WHI), which was launched to encourage sedentary people to exercise over ten years ago.  For more information go to the Walking the Way to Health Website at http://www.whi.org.uk/ 

Here in the Havant borough area we soon realised that not only are our walkers becoming fit and healthy by joining in with the walks and helping to manage various health problems but it’s also a really sociable way to exercise, often with more talking than walking! Our walk leaders often arrange extra walks, like the ones from Warblington through to Emsworth for a pub lunch or longer walks in the summer.   Our regular walks last about an hour, encouraging people to exercise in a safe environment and are all led by trained volunteers. 

People join us for various reasons, they may have been recently bereaved or have no one to walk with or they may have been referred to us by their GP or Health Professional.  Others join us who enjoy exercising outdoors and knowing there is an organised walk encourages them to come along.  There are so many beautiful, open spaces in the local area, walking is an ideal way to discover and enjoy them, either the beaches on Hayling Island, through the woodland in Emsworth or Waterlooville or a walk into Havant Thicket from Warren Park.  There is a led walk nearly every day of the week and we meet all year round. All our walks are free and everyone is welcome, although children must be accompanied.