Walk leaders needed

Monday, 28 June 2010

Reading Borough Council is looking for willing volunteers to lead health walks around Reading's green spaces and parks, including on the University's Whiteknights campus.

The walks are intended as a great opportunity for people to discover their local community, meet new people and improve their health, and the Council is looking for new volunteers so that they are able to expand their current programme.

Volunteers attend a course (details of which are below) which covers many areas, including: benefits of exercise, motivating people to walk, going on a demonstration health walk, components of a health walk, monitoring safety and effectiveness, physical activity and dealing with special conditions, and how to lead walks.

Having successfully completed the training day, volunteers will be registered on the Walking the Way to Health (WHI) insurance, and be therefore fully insured to lead walks. Once they are qualified, volunteers also receive a nationally recognised certificate.

Details of upcoming training sessions are as follows:

Date- Tuesday 24th August 2010
Time- 10am-3pm
Place- The Avenue Centre

Date- Monday 11th October 2010
Time- 10am-3pm
Place- Rivermead Leisure Complex

Date- Wednesday 1st November 2010
Time- 10am-3pm
Place- Wycliffe Church

If you know someone who may be interested, please ask them to contact the Culture and Sport Team at Reading Borough Council to book a place, on 01189 375 713.

There are currently two walks that take place on the Whiteknights campus each week - Mondays from 10-11am meeting at the Whiteknights House bus stop, and Wednesdays from 10-11am meeting at Hamilton Road Childrens' Centre.