Residents of the Western Isles are up and on the move with an expanded Health Walk programme, thanks to Laura MacKay and her team at Walk on Hebrides. Entering a new post as Health Improvement Practitioner in May 2024, Laura recognised how important walking and wheeling is to the wellbeing of island residents. With support from Paths for All and the Scottish Health Walk Network (SHWN) team, Laura was able to provide a series of Walk Leader cascade training sessions to re-establish walking programmes in the local island communities.
The Western Isles are a 130-mile chain of sixteen inhabited islands comprising the Outer Hebrides. Situated about 40 miles off the coast of Northwest of Scotland, the region has an ageing and declining population. Roughly 25% of the Western Isles is over 65 years of age, with higher rates of Dementia.
Walk on Hebrides has coordinated Health Walks since 2007 but halted in 2021 when staff were seconded to COVID-19 programmes. Several of the Walk on Hebrides Health Walks continued with support from Marion Matheson, NHS Health Improvement Practitioner and cascade trainer for Uist and Barra, Local Authority and agency staff, support workers and community volunteers. However, there was no co-ordinator to anchor in additional support for training and resources. Following Laura’s appointment, Walk on Hebrides became more actively involved with Paths for All. After an introductory meeting with our SHWN team, Walk on Hebrides joined our Network to access membership benefits, including the Walking for Health Fund, supported by Active Scotland.
The successful funding application supplemented existing NHS funding ensuring the project could not only continue its programme delivery but expand. Laura’s achievements include completing the Train the Trainer Cascade Volunteer Walk Leader, Dementia Friendly Walk Leader and Strength and Balance training.
Laura MacKay said,
Without the funding, we would not have had the opportunity to attend the cascade training, and the project would not have been able to offer in-person training to the island communities. This training is critical in supporting the ageing population of the Western Isles - it’s been an essential part of revitalizing the volunteer program and walking provision.
The impact of these Health Walk groups to those living with long-term conditions in remote and rural communities is immeasurable.
Laura has now recruited and trained six new Walk Leaders and has reconnected and upskilled existing volunteer Health Walk Leaders. With an expansion of the Health Walks programme, Walk on Hebrides now delivers ten Health Walks across remote and rural communities including in Barra, North and South Uist, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis.
Through certified cascade training, Laura and the Walk on Hebrides team can focus on building capacity and strength within their Health Walk programme. The ability to train and upskill volunteer Walk Leaders will ensure a robust Health Walk programme thrives for many years to come.
The Health Walks offer a lifeline to residents: regular opportunities to walk and wheel keeps the population healthy and mobile, supports mental wellbeing and reduces social isolation. Delivered with accessibility and inclusion in mind, the programme includes Buggy Walks for parents and minders and flat running track walks with trained instructors who can take account of participants’ injuries or health conditions. The programme includes mental health walks led by a mental health charity, Social Seniors, and a Dementia friendly walk, managed by Lewis Alzheimer’s Scotland team.
Fran Crumley, Active Health and Care Development Officer said,
We are thrilled to have supported Laura and Walk on Hebrides on their journey, from joining the Scottish Health Walk Network to successfully securing funding from the Walking for Health Fund.
This funding allowed the team to attend in-person training with Paths for All, which, given the project’s remote location, was a significant achievement. We are proud to support Health Walk providers across Scotland and it’s been fantastic to see the development of the Walk on Hebrides programme. Laura is delivering in-person volunteer training, offering accessible and inclusive physical activity opportunities that help to reduce isolation.
Becoming an active member of the Network is showing real impact across the island communities with residents now able to enjoy more opportunities to walk and wheel together.
Our support for Health Walk projects
SHWN membership includes access to training and support from the SHWN team. Members can also access a dedicated Members Area with wide range of toolkits and resources. Members receive exclusive newsletters, invites to helpful webinars on topics such as Menopause Awareness, Autism Awareness and LGBTIQ+ inclusion. Here, attendees can bolster their knowledge, share learning and network with other coordinators.
Are you delivering group walks in your community? If you want to learn more about the benefits of joining the Scottish Health Walk Network, contact the team at SHWN@pathsforall.org.uk.