by Jane Knowles
Chief executive officer, Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership
If you’ve ever wondered whether a simple walk can really make a difference to someone’s life, the answer from our Somerset Health Walks community is a huge ‘yes’.
Over the past year, we’ve been gathering feedback from over 3,000 of our individual walkers and over 180 volunteers to better understand the impact that our Health Walks programme is having across Somerset.
But while the statistics are important, it’s the personal stories and comments that really bring everything to life – and honestly, they’ve been some incredibly moving tales to read.
One thing that shines through again and again is how welcoming and inclusive our walks feel.
The power of walking together
People consistently describe the groups as friendly, supportive and completely non-judgemental – something we’re really proud of.
For many, joining a walking group can feel daunting at first.
Some are managing long-term health conditions, some haven’t exercised in years and others simply feel nervous about turning up alone.
But walkers told us they value the fact there’s “absolutely no pressure to participate”, that “nobody gets left behind” and that this culture of kindness matters as, for many walkers, these weekly meetings have become an important part of their life.
Why? Because these strolls aren’t just about steps or fitness levels – they’re about motivation, connection and about creating healthy habits that last.
Many walkers told us the groups help them feel part of a community, especially those who live alone or are new to an area and that sense of belonging is incredibly powerful.
This is because what starts as a walk often evolves into grabbing an after-walk coffee, with chats that make those encounters become friendships that then turn into support networks. People arrive as strangers and quickly become familiar faces to one another.
Of course, there are physical benefits too – and they’re significant.
Good for body and mind
Among walkers with long-term health conditions, many reported improvements in overall fitness, mood, mobility and wellbeing after taking part regularly.
We also saw encouraging signs that people are becoming more active overall, including doing more balance and strength activities.
But again, it’s the way people describe those changes that really matters.
They say things like: "The whole experience makes me feel healthier and happier", "[walking] keeps us fit, mentally and physically!" or "I feel so much happier when I have been on my health walk."
These comments perfectly sum up why programmes like this are so important.
