This week (13-19 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 and the theme is "Movement: Moving more for our mental health". As this links in perfectly with our NLHF-funded Coast Path Connectors (CPC) Project, it seemed like a great opportunity to celebrate some of the amazing work taking place as part of this project.
NHS Coast Path Connectors walk at St Agnes
Most people now recognise that movement is important and beneficial for our mental health. However, so many of us struggle to move enough. We know there are many different reasons for this, and we hope that in the CPC project we are helping with some of those barriers in our walking programmes.
Our approach within Coast Path Connectors
- Having dedicated local project staff to be a point of contact for potential walkers, alleviate any worries and answer queries
- Giving participants as much information as possible so they know what to expect when they join one of our walks
- Having trained and dedicated volunteers who spend time chatting to participants
- Making it free (and helping with travel expenses)
- Being the 'someone to go with' that everyone needs sometimes and providing the opportunity to socialise with other people
- Picking meeting locations that are easy to get to
- Making walks accessible to lots of different abilities and encouraging people to walk at their own pace
- Sorting out the arrangements and leading the walks, leaving participants time to enjoy the company of others
- Providing additional information along the walk, about heritage and nature, to bring our amazing coastal walks to life
- Always ending with (and paying for) a much-needed cuppa.
Volunteer training in Kingswear
Volunteer training in Mortehoe
Feedback from our walk participants
As part of the CPC project, we are evaluating the project; looking at what works well, and what we could get better. We have been asking our walk participants to tell us what they have got out of their time walking with us. When asked if they felt calm and relaxed, over 96% of them either agreed or strongly agreed. And this is even better, when asked if they felt refreshed and revitalised as over 99% agreed or strongly agreed that they did.
As well as the statistics, here are some participants evaluation in their own words:
'I felt like it helped my clear my mind'
'The walk was psychologically refreshing.'
'Was very depressed and achy, made myself attend anyway, it really helped improve my mood, and I met friendly people to talk to.'
'Meeting new people, connecting and realising others are going through similar stuff'
Live Longer Better walk from Meadsfoot to Antsey's Cove, Torbay
Coast Path Connectors walk in Newquay, Cornwall
This all sounds like these are walks are working well for participants, but we also know that our walking programmes benefits the mental health of our volunteers and staff too! Personally, every time I get an opportunity to go out on a CPC walk, I have an opportunity to reset and enjoy different company and the beautiful coast. I come home feeling recharged, and feel very thankful and privileged to be able to share this with others. Who's ready for a Coast Path walk now?
About the Coast Path Connectors Project
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Coast Path Connectors project aims to open up coastal walking to a range of new audiences. This project will help improve equity of access along the South West Coast Path by supporting local people in making the most of our amazing trail, for their health and well-being, through a network of new volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION
Email: Coast Path Connectors Project Manager, Alex Turner at alex@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Website: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/Get-involved/coast-path-connectors/
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