JohnPeople living in East Leeds from ethnic communities can become involved in a new project that aims to widen participation in the outdoors by becoming qualified walk leaders.
The Walk Together Pathway is helping to transform access to the outdoors so that everyone can enjoy the essential benefits that time in green space and nature brings.
Walk leaders play their part in getting more people active outdoors and more often, as they help people discover their local area.
As a leader, they ensure that they’re familiar with a route before leading a walk – often sharing their favourite walks with others – and provide a warm welcome, making sure everyone’s well prepared before setting off.
Many walking group members gain the confidence to try walking on their own – or with family and friends – after walking and getting to know new routes under the guidance of a trained leader. And that’s often due to the enthusiasm, knowledge and skills of the person leading as they help people to explore safely.
All trainee walk leaders on the Walk Together Pathway will undertake either Lowland Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader, or Mountain Leader training. This will enable them to lead safe and enjoyable walks, for groups of all abilities and over different terrain, in the mountains and hills of England and Wales.
The Walk Together Pathway looks to increase representation by training walk leaders from global majority ethnic groups. The training programme will equip new walk leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge that they need to become a successful walk leader in the outdoor community.
A National Trust spokesperson said: “The more people who have access to nature and green spaces, the more people will care about their future and be moved to take action to protect them.”
The Walk Together Pathway is a project funded and coordinated,with support from organisations from the outdoor community including:
- Beyond The Edge
- Mountain Training
- Ordnance Survey
- Plas Y Brenin
- The Ramblers
- Sport England
- YHA
The project brings together eight walking groups representing people from global majority ethnicities, aiming to train 100 new walk leaders. The eight groups we’re working with are:
- Black Girls Hike
- Black2Nature
- Bristol Steppin Sistas
- Mosaic Outdoors
- Muslim Hikers,
- NYCE (Nature, Youth, Connection, and Education)
- Peak District Mosaic
- Sheffield Environmental Movement
How can I get involved?
If you’re interested in becoming a walk leader and want to get started, you can find information about training available here. Access free walk leader resources and training by becoming a walking volunteer – please contact your local National Trust place for information – or by becoming a Ramblers volunteer. For higher-level training, you can try the Mountain Training courses.
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