Stroll Chief praised for getting neighborhood shifting
A FIFE resident has been recognised for her function in doubling the dimensions and frequency of the areas native night strolling teams.
Topped by Scotland’s strolling charity, Paths for All, Claire Henderson, Stroll Chief of Bums Off Seats (The Proper Step) challenge has been awarded Well being Stroll Volunteer of the 12 months on the 2023 Volunteer Awards.
As a devoted Stroll Chief, Claire has been instrumental in main Bums Off Seats Well being Walks within the Fife space, forming a night strolling group in 2021.
In January 2023, Claire began a second night stroll with lower than 10 attendees to supply the neighborhood a selection of days and areas and fashioned the ‘The Proper Step’ neighborhood particularly for the night Bums off Seats strolling teams.
The night group meets twice every week, with a mean of 20 walkers attending every session. In addition to often assembly for social outings, bringing collectively neighborhood members from all walks of life.
Bums off Seats facilitates 17 weekly walks throughout Fife and is targeted not simply on the well being advantages of strolling, however the social components by selling inclusive exercise for walkers of all ranges and talents.
Commenting on the award win, Claire stated: “I used to be bowled over after I came upon I gained the award, I’m simply so delighted that our superb walkers get pleasure from strolling and chatting as a lot because the stroll leaders do.
“I began strolling with Bums Off Seats in 2021 which impressed me to do my Stroll Chief coaching and to start out the Tuesday night strolling group. I wished to verify that there have been days appropriate for everybody, making the Well being Walks extra accessible to all members of our neighborhood.
“I can’t imagine I’ve solely been strolling with the group for 2 years, the friendships which were fashioned and the folks I’ve met have actually made this expertise so worthwhile. Once we’re out on our walks, we’re chatting continuous, for quite a lot of our walkers, this could be their solely social interplay of the week.
“We actually do really feel like a household, and all of us help and encourage one another alongside the best way. There’s by no means a uninteresting second once we are collectively! The group wouldn’t be as superb as it’s, with out all of the fantastic Stroll Leaders than have joined me alongside the best way. We now have six certified leaders and an inventory of those who wish to turn into licensed and assist the neighborhood similar to we do.”
The Proper Step meet on Tuesday evenings in Inverkeithing, and on Thursday evenings in Dunfermline. The group is a department of Bums Off Seats, a strolling initiative facilitated by Fife Council, Energetic Fife, and Paths for All.
Darren Wyn Jones, Energetic Communities Staff Supervisor at Fife Council, stated: “Claire’s dedication and keenness to get her area people lively by way of the Bums Off Seats challenge is absolutely deserving of this achievement and recognition. Claire is a beacon for the challenge throughout the Kingdom.
It is usually recognition of the exhausting work of the Energetic Communities group and challenge lead, Lauren Stoddart, and the communities who’re becoming a member of Claire, and all our different fantastic volunteers, in taking a step in the direction of dwelling an lively and wholesome life.”
Claire was celebrated at Paths for All’s 14th annual awards ceremony on the Scottish Parliament on 27 September 2023.
Hosted by the BBC Scotland’s Fiona Stalker, with awards offered by sponsoring MSP Nicola Sturgeon,?the occasion recognised 10 teams and people all through Scotland who’ve gone the additional mile to maintain their communities lively.?
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Psychological Wellbeing and Sport “Supporting folks in Scotland to stroll and wheel is a key a part of our imaginative and prescient of a rustic the place extra individuals are extra lively, extra usually.
“An enormous variety of extremely motivated and expert individuals are serving to us ship this imaginative and prescient, particularly the passionate volunteers who accomplish that a lot to assist others overcome challenges to participation and facilitate actions throughout the nation.
“They are surely inspirational, the popularity from Paths for All in these Awards may be very properly deserved.”
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Government Officer at Paths for All, stated: “Yearly I’m blown away on the variety of unimaginable teams and volunteers on the market decided to make a distinction. The work carried out by volunteers is instantly enhancing the nation’s bodily, psychological and social well being, decreasing social isolation and loneliness and serving to folks make extra environmentally pleasant way of life selections.
“It’s been incredible internet hosting the awards on the Scottish Parliament once more this 12 months, I all the time get pleasure from getting to socialize with our superb volunteers and listen to first-hand concerning the invaluable contributions they’ve been making.
“Thanks to everybody for his or her efforts and ongoing dedication.”
Paths for All works with the Scottish Authorities and 30 companions to help and ship nationwide insurance policies, such because the Nationwide Strolling Technique and different ‘lively journey’ initiative to enhance the psychological, social and bodily well being of the nation.
The charity awards 1000’s of kilos value of grants to worthwhile tasks that enhance well being, promote strolling and enhance environments for folks to be lively in – making for a happier, more healthy, greener Scotland.
To seek out out extra about The Proper Step, be a part of the Fb group: https://www.fb.com/teams/707085024095428
To seek out out extra about Bums Off Seats, go to: https://lively.fife.scot/actions/activity-pages/fitness-and-wellbeing/strolling
A full listing of Volunteer Award winners 2023 could be discovered on Paths for All’s web site: http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/volunteerawards
