Week-long strolling and wheeling occasion conjures up Highlanders
A LOCAL charity has been recognised for its dedication in getting the neighborhood shifting with a week-long competition of occasions.
Scotland’s nationwide strolling charity, Paths for All, has recognised Partnerships for Wellbeing for its Pageant of Strolling and Wheeling in Inverness because the Energetic Journey Group of the 12 months on the Volunteer Awards 2023.
The competition, which was held in Could 2023, was the primary of its sort within the capital of the Highlands and featured 22 occasions over a week-long celebration of strolling and wheeling.
Got down to promote actions out there in Inverness and surrounding areas, 30 native organisations collaborated to encourage folks from all walks of life to become involved in lively journey.
Jayne Preece, Well being Walks and Occasions Supervisor at Partnerships for Wellbeing, and competition co-ordinator mentioned: “It’s sensible that the work and dedication of our volunteers has been recognised.
“Organising and facilitating the competition has been extraordinarily rewarding. The truth that so many unbelievable organisations got here collectively simply exhibits how passionate we’re about getting extra folks lively and outdoors.
“Strolling and wheeling have so many advantages on your bodily and psychological well being, it’s been unimaginable to see that because the competition we’ve seen an enormous increase to the numbers becoming a member of our weekly Well being Walks, and strolling and wheeling actions throughout Inverness.
“This award from Paths for All is an unimaginable achievement, we’re so pleased with the work we’re doing, and being recognised on this method is a big increase for our work. We will’t look ahead to subsequent 12 months’s competition.”
The competition obtained funding from the Nationwide Lottery Group Fund, and Paths for All’s Smarter Decisions, Smarter Locations fund. Partnerships for Wellbeing has been facilitating weekly Well being Stroll teams since 2004, with 14 teams from Tain to Nairn.
The Inverness Pageant of Strolling and Wheeling was counseled at Paths for All’s 14th annual awards ceremony on the Scottish Parliament on 27 September.
Hosted by the BBC Scotland’s Fiona Stalker, 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 mentioned: “Supporting folks in Scotland to stroll and wheel is a key a part of our imaginative and prescient of a rustic the place extra persons are extra lively, extra usually.
“An enormous variety of extremely motivated and expert persons 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 nicely deserved.”
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Government Officer at Paths for All, mentioned: “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 straight bettering the nation’s bodily, psychological and social well being, lowering social isolation and loneliness and serving to folks make extra environmentally pleasant way of life decisions.
“It’s been unbelievable internet hosting the awards on the Scottish Parliament once more this 12 months, I at all times get pleasure from getting to socialize with our wonderful 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 assist 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 hundreds of kilos value of grants to worthwhile initiatives 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 concerning the Inverness Pageant of Strolling and Wheeling, please go to: https://www.wawfest.com/
A full listing of Volunteer Award winners 2023 will be discovered on Paths for All’s web site: http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/volunteerawards
