walking charity – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Work wanderers wanted for step count showdown

Scotland’s walking charity calls on Edinburgh workplaces to step up for spring

PEOPLE across Edinburgh are being called on by Scotland’s walking charity to get their steps in as part of its biggest workplace walking and wheeling challenge.

Paths for All is inviting businesses and charities of all shapes and sizes across the country to take part in its eight-week Step Count Challenge this spring.

The Step Count Challenge is designed to motivate teams to walk, wheel, or cycle more during the workday to boost physical activity levels, improving mental health, social connections, and overall wellbeing. Thousands participate each year, racking up incredible step totals.

Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer at Paths for All, said: “The workplace is where most of us spend a majority of our waking hours, so it’s crucial we create environments that promote healthy habits.

“Things like walking meetings, taking the stairs, or just getting up to chat with a coworker face-to-face can make a big difference in how we feel.

“Walking is one of the simplest things we can do to improve our physical, mental and social health. You don’t need any special equipment and it can be incorporated into the working day.

“The Step Count Challenge is all about building awareness around these easy opportunities to move more.”

The 2024 Step Count Challenge runs 29^th April – 23^rd June. Teams of 5 can register for just £30.

Participants track their activity online, access leaderboards and team chat features, and can even estimate the environmental impact of their steps.

For extra motivation, the charity are running prize draws with the chance to win vouchers for Go Outdoors and a £1,000 luxury getaway at a Macdonald Hotel.

43-year-old Rona MacKay from the Outer Herbrides was recognised as the Step Count Challenge Champion in the autumn challenge for her efforts in encouraging team mates to be more active and in turn improve their health and well-being.

“It was important to me to do the challenge, as I have a desk job and find myself sitting for long hours in a day looking at a screen.

“Taking part in the challenge encouraged me to get away from my desk at regular intervals. Every 45 minutes I took a short break to get some steps in, even if it’s just walking to the kitchen to get some water.

“20 of our 26 staff took part in the Step Count Challenge so we had some fun rivalry between the groups to motivate us. My team was spread across Uist, Orkney, Shetland, the Black Isle and Edinburgh so we set up a teams chat to keep in touch and egg each other on.”

The Step Count Challenge is made up of teams of five and has one simple aim of encouraging people to walk more to feel healthier and happier, with participants having access to leader boards, goal setting and a team chat system to keep them motivated and connected.

Teams can track their daily walked or cycled miles and can access a carbon calculator to measure the positive impact making local journeys on foot has on the environment.

More information about bespoke Step Count Challenges, can be found by visiting https://www.stepcount.org.uk/bespoke-step-count-challenges

Active travel projects across the country to benefit from launch of a trio of funds

SCOTLAND’s national walking charity has launched three funds worth £7 million in a bid to encourage Edinburgh locals to choose active travel.

The new Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Active Nation Fund worth £1.5 million, the Ian Findlay Path Fund (£1.5 million) and the £5 million SCSP Open Fund have been announced by Paths for All this month.

Supported by Transport Scotland and backed by the government, the three funds hope to encourage Scots to drive less and to walk, wheel or cycle as part of their everyday short journeys to cut Scotland’s carbon emissions and improve air quality.

It is hoped the initiatives will help contribute to reversing the trend of inactive lifestyles by tackling health inequalities throughout the country.

Minister for Active Travel Patrick Harvie said: “I’m pleased to welcome the launch of three active travel funding opportunities delivered through Paths for All.

“This will help to support the growing ambitions of public, third and community-sector organisations to provide bigger and better active travel opportunities right across Scotland.

“As part of our record funding for active travel, this work directly supports our ambitions to build a more active nation – where more people can choose to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys than ever before, and I look forward to seeing the success of new projects in action.”

The SCSP Active Nation Fund invites public, community and third-sector organisations to apply for up to £200,000 to support projects which encourage everyday travel behaviour change on a national or multi-regional level in Scotland.

To commemorate the legacy of the former Paths for All CEO, the Ian Findlay Path Fund supports projects designed to make improvements to local walkways and paths and to make them more accessible to all. Applicants can receive a grant of up to £100,000 for their project.

First launched in 2018, the SCSP Open Fund grants communities and public and third-sector organisations up to £100,000, and encourages people to change their everyday travel behaviours – such as using sustainable travel for longer journeys.

Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All, said: “These funds will increase the pace and scale of active travel delivery across the country as we collectively work together to encourage active travel for a happier, healthier and greener Scotland.

“If we all make small changes to our daily travel habits such as making walking, wheeling or cycling the natural choice for journeys to the local shop, school or pharmacy, for example, it will make a huge difference to our health and wellbeing.

“This new support will help deliver a step change in how we choose to travel in order to tackle the climate emergency and help reduce car kilometres and would only be possible with support from the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland. It means projects will be able to extend their reach and will be more effective in communicating important information and improving local assets.

“We would like to thank them for supporting the funds and look forward to seeing the amazing work that comes off the back of this.”

Applications for this round of funding opened on June 6.

To apply for the SCSP Active Nation Fund, please visit:

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/active-travel/smarter-choices-smarter-places-1/active-nation-fund

To apply for the SCSP Open Fund, please visit:

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/active-travel/smarter-choices-smarter-places-1/open-fund

To apply for the Ian Findlay Path Fund, please visit:

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/community-paths/cmp-grants/ian-findlay-path-fund

To read inspiring more examples of how funding has been used to further active travel in Scotland, please visit: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/active-travel/at-success-stories

Scottish charity calls for walking champions to step up

Edinburgh beauty spots celebrated during National Walking Month

Edinburgh folk are being asked to step up as part of a month-long celebration of walking.

Walking charity, Paths for All, is shining the spotlight on local champions and community locations such as paths and parks to mark the start of its National Walking Month campaign in May.

Individuals are being asked to share their walking stories and favourite local routes in a bid to encourage more people to get active, enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature.

Those eager to shine a spotlight on their walking and wheeling journey can share their story on the Paths for All website by filling out a short form.

Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer of Paths for All, said: “Walking is the easiest and most accessible way to keep active, and we’re lucky that Scotland is blessed with wonderful walking routes. Even in cities and towns, you are never far away from a green space filled with nature.

“That’s why as part of National Walking Month, we’re sharing the stories of Scottish walkers. We would love to hear from a diverse range of people and encourage anyone with their own tale to tell to come forward.

“We hope sharing these stories will inspire like-minded individuals to walk more, helping to achieve our ambition of creating a walking society aimed at providing more opportunities and better environments for everyone in Edinburgh.

“May is the perfect month to head outdoors and enjoy the many physical, mental, social and environmental benefits that walking brings.”

This National Walking Month, the charity is encouraging Scots across the country to walk or wheel every day in May with 31 ideas to help everyone to be active this spring.

Prizes will be up for grabs for individuals who take part in National Walking Month, with 10 Blacks vouchers worth £100 each on offer.

Paths for All has a clear and simple aim, which is to get Scotland walking: everyone, every day, everywhere. Walking outdoors is a fantastic way to boost your mood, clear your head and benefit from fresh air in local parks and greenspaces.

For more information on Paths for All’s National Walking Month campaign and how to get involved, visit: https://pathsforall.org.uk/win

Living Streets’ search for UK’s walking heroes begins

National charity Living Streets is asking people to nominate local groups or individuals who have gone the extra mile to improve their community for walking and wheeling this year.

Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, is looking for inpiring entrants for the Charles Maher Award – Walking Champion 2022.

The award was set up in honour of Charles Maher, a campaigner and longstanding supporter of Living Streets – formerly the Pedestrians Association – and recognises an individual, group or organisation who has helped achieve a better environment for pedestrians.

Stephen Edwards, Interim Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Local people doing extraordinary things to improve the places where they live deserve to be celebrated.

“By helping to make our streets safer and more attractive, many people and organisations have ensured we have stayed active, healthy and connected to our communities. This award is a chance to recognise their work and say thank you.

“Whether you know a parent who has helped make walking to school safer for local families, an organisation that’s fighting for safer streets for wheelchair users or an individual whose dedication and tenacity has led to street improvements, we want to hear about them.”

Individuals, local groups, organisations or local authorities can self-nominate themselves or others for the Living Streets Charles Maher Award.

The deadline for nominations is midnight on 16 February 2022.

Living Streets members will then select the top nominee by vote, with the winner invited to collect their award during Living Streets’ National Walking Summit on 22 March 2022.

The nomination form is on the Living Streets website: