The WHI Scheme

• The walking the way to Health Scheme is an initiative of the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency.

• It began in England in October 2000 and will run for 5years.

• The scheme aims to improve the health and fitness of more than a million people, in particular those who do little exercise or who live in areas of poor health.

The Salford Scheme

• The Salford Scheme Walking for All began in October 2001 and it is City wide.

• The scheme has funding for two years with a third possible.

Group Led Walks

• These will be led by trained volunteer walk leaders.

• There should be at least 1 in each area by the end of this year.

• There will leave from an accessible point within the area, possibly Doctors surgery, leisure centre, community centre.

• The group can decide on new routes , however they must be risk assessed and mapped out by the coordinator.

Independent Walking Packages

• These will be specifically designed for people to use when walking alone or with a friend.

• They will illustrate at least 2 routes in each of the 9 community committee areas.

• Each route will have been risk assessed and the map will highlight telephone boxes, seating, difficult terrains and other relevant information.

• The packs will only be available from clinics, community groups or other organisations who will take names and address`s of those who ask for packs. This is necessary for evaluation purposes.

GP Referral Walks

• These walks will leave from local leisure centres, led by one member of the leisure centre staff team and a local walk leader volunteer.

• If you receive a GP referral you will be given a programme of activities from your advisor. Walking could be one.

• The GP referral scheme is under-going massive change and the hope is to have the referral scheme on offer in all leisure centres and the walks will be included in this.

• The walks are ideal for GP referral as it is gentle and safe for the majority of people.

The Health Benefits

• Coronary Heart Disease• CHD is the leading single cause of premature

death for both men and women in the UK. Walking can prevent and manage heart disease – regular exercise can halve the risk of CHD, particularly in men who walk briskly.

• Someone who is inactive has as great a risk of having heart disease as someone who smokes or who has high blood pressure or has high cholesterol.

• The risk of having stroke is three times higher in those who do little or no exercise.

The Health Benefits

• Weight Management• Regular walking can help reduce

weight and maintain weight loss – walking just one mile can burn up at least 100 Kilo calories and walking 2 miles per day, 3 times per week can help reduce weight by 14 pounds in 3-4 months

Health Benefits

• Older People• Regular waking can help strengthen bones and

therefore reduce the risk of osteoporosis and associated fractures – hip fractures can be reduced by up to 50% with regular walking

• Physical activity can improve or maintain balance, coordination and joint flexibility in older people which prevents falls

• Walking can help reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee

• Lifelong exercise has been shown to lessen the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease