A new walking group for sheltered housing residents in Renfrewshire has become a hit with tenants.
The Paisley Puffins held their first health walk last month around Paisley’s Fountain Gardens where five tenants joined walk leaders and volunteers.
But just four weeks later, the Puffins have doubled their participant numbers with many already feeling the health benefits of weekly walking.
The project is a result of a partnership between Renfrewshire Council and Scotland’s walking charity Paths for All which financially supported the initiative and trained staff and volunteers to be walk leaders.
Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “The project means that many tenants who were previously unable to attend Renfrewshire Walking Network’s existing walks due to reduced walking ability or lack of confidence, have been able to take part.
“This project started with very low level, short, easy walks on specially-selected smooth paths, with lots of rest points and facilities to introduce walking gradually.
“The residents have been able to socialise and meet new friends as well as increase their fitness levels and everyone is absolutely loving it.
“It’s been a great success.”
The Paisley Puffins want tenants to build up enough strength, fitness and confidence so they can be referred to the local health walks. They will also use strength and balance in their project.
Walks will take place at various locations over the coming months, bringing together tenants from Renfrewshire Council’s 12 sheltered housing units.
Walkers are being given pedometers and steps will be logged each week to track how far the group walks and what they achieve.
Anyone interested in walking with the Paisley Puffins or volunteering as a walk leader can contact Sally Logan, health and wellbeing co-ordinator with Renfrewshire Council, on 0141 618 6055.
ENDS
For more information, contact Deborah Fox communications and marketing officer at Paths for All via Deborah.fox@pathsforall.org.uk or call 01259 230155.
Caption: Walkers are pictured during the first walk on June 21.
Notes to editors:
Paths for All is a partnership of organisations committed to promoting walking for health and the development of multi-use path networks in Scotland. We champion walking in Scotland for everyone, everyday and everywhere.
Our aim is to significantly increase the number of people who choose to walk in Scotland – whether that’s leisure walking or active-choice walking to work, school or shops. We want to create a happier, healthier Scotland, where increased physical activity improves quality of life and wellbeing for all.
We work to create more opportunities and better environments not just for walking, but also for cycling and other activities, to help make Scotland a more active, more prosperous, greener country.
Paths for All is supported by the Scottish Government to promote physical activity and walking for health in Scotland and is a key delivery partner for the Scottish Government’s National Walking Strategy and the Active Scotland Outcomes Framework.