Volunteer walk leader training

2. Volunteer walk leader training Aims of the day Understand Walking for Health Understand the benefits of walking Getting to know the role of walk leader Gain confidence and knowledge needed to lead a health walk and complete the required paperwork Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

3. Overview of the day 9.30Registration 10.00Icebreaker 10.15Walking for Health 10.55 The benefits of walking 11.45 Coffee break 11.55 Your role as a walk leader 12.50Demonstration walk 1.35 Lunch 2.10 Managing walks and walkers 2.30 Paperwork, insurance and the database 3.15Coffee break 3.25 Walking and health conditions 4.05 The walk leader experience 4.10 Next steps 4.30Close Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

4. Ice breaker Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

5. 600 schemes3,400 walks10,000 volunteers Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

6. Our partnership • A new era for Walking for Health Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

7. Our partnership • The Ramblers Working for walkers from 1935.... ....to today Helping people to go walking... ...and protecting the places where you walk Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

8. Our partnership • Macmillan Cancer Support One in three of us will get cancer 2 million 2 million of us are living with it “Cheryl, my walk leader, encouraged me to walk, which greatly improved my mind set and fitness when I was recovering from cancer.” Catherine, walker 1.6 million cancer survivors aren’t active enough Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

9. What is a health walk? • Activity Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

10. Why Walking for Health? • The benefits It was great to be doing something active while making new friends. I felt really proud of myself at the end of the walk. No one will ever know just what a big deal it was for me to get there in the first place but I’m so glad I did. My confidence has grown immensely.. I felt so much better after every walk Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

11. Who we are • The Walking for Health team Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

12. Who we are • Support for you Scheme coordinators Fellow leaders Walking for Health website Newsletters Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

13. Physical activity • How much do you know? • How much physical activity does the government recommend we should be doing every week? • What percentage of men and women currently don’t meet the government’s physical activity guidelines? • By how much can being inactive shorten our lifespan? • a) 0 years b) 1-2 years c) 3-5 years d) 5-7 years • Which of these health conditions does keeping active reduce the risk of? a) coronary heart disease b) stroke c) type 2 diabetes d) depression e) colon cancer f) Alzheimer’s • What’s better for you? a) ironing for 30 minutes a day? b) walking briskly for 30 minutes a day? c) running for 15 minutes a day Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

14. Physical activity • Benefits and barriers It makes me happier I don’t have time Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

15. Why walk? • The physical benefits Only a third of adults in the UK are active enough, but it doesn’t have to be this way... If a medication existed which had a similar effect to physical activity, it would be regarded as a ‘wonder drug’ or a ‘miracle cure’. Former Chief Medical Officer of England Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

16. Why walk? • The mental benefits It’s not just about physical health, walking is great for body and mind... “Walking for Health has been one of the best things I’ve ever done, I feel like I’ve found the real me again. I’m healthier, fitter, happier and more confident.” Sandra, walker with Walking for Health Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

17. Why not walk? • Common barriers You can find responses to these in your manual... I haven’t got time Exercise isn’t safe – I might get injured Exercise is boring I can’t afford it I’m overweight and don’t have the confidence You have to be fit to exercise I don’t know how or where to get active Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

18. Walking for Health • Motivation to take part A friend who was taking part said don’t walk on your own, come and join us. It is a very sociable group, so a lot of people have made quite good friends through the walks… Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

19. Physical activity and mental health • Activity Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

20. Physical activity and mental health • The benefits Walking has always been there for me, my confidence has grown immensely. I'm a totally different person now than I was ten years ago and I owe so much of that to walking. Walker with bipolar disorder Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

21. 23 ½ hours • Another view point Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

22. Coffee break Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

23. What makes an ideal walk leader? • Activity Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

24. The walk leader’s role Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

25. Looking after yourself • Because your health is important too! Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

26. Leading a safe walk • Recces and risk assessments Recces Give you knowledge and confidence Risk assessments -For safety -For insurance Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

27. Components of a health walk • Activity Before At the start During After Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

28. Leading a health walk • Top tips Knowledgeable Friendly Equipped Observant Welcoming Empowering Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

29. Demo walk Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

30. Lunch Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

31. Managing a group of walkers • The practicalities If a group of strangers turned up at the same place, at the same time, in unfamiliar surroundings and decided to go on a walk without a leader, what would happen? Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

32. Dealing with difficult scenarios • Activity I don’t want to fill out the health questionnaire I’m going to shout at people if we don’t do what I want to do I’m wearing flip flops Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

33. Paperwork and the database • What we all need to know Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

34. Insurance • What it is and what it covers Walking is one of the safest outdoor activities Civil liability NOT personal accident Trained walk leader on Walking for Health activities Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

35. First aid • Our advice We recommend walk leaders receive training It’s not an insurance requirement for us Individual schemes will have their own policies British Red Cross advice Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

36. Route planning (optional) • Finding the right way Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

37. Coffee break Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

38. Walking and mental health • What words would you relate to someone with a mental health problem? • How could you tell if someone has a mental health problem? • Activity Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

39. The MIND cycle • Activity Relax Adopt an open body posture Signpost Listen Give contact details of relevant organisations Avoid judgement Nod and smile Allow them to finish Human Present Be in the moment Avoid rehearsing a response Connect as a person “That must have been difficult” Reflect Summarise and repeat back to show you have listened Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

40. Understanding learning disabilities • Activity • What does ‘learning disability’ mean to you? • In small groups, come up with your own definition of what a learning disability is • How do you know that someone has a learning disability? Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

41. Mental health & learning disabilities • The differences Mental health problems... Learning disabilities... ...can occur at any time ...you have from birth ...affect the way you think, feel and behave ...affect the way you learn, communicate & understand ...can be treated with therapy or drugs, which can help some people ...cannot be treated medically and are lifelong Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

42. Communication tips • Speaking to someone with learning disabilities The right place Check you’ve understood Open questions Watch body language Take your time Use visual aids Break down information Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

43. The benefits of being a walk leader • Real stories Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

44. Your next steps • Working towards your certificate Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

45. Your manual • Let’s take a look Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

46. Training summary • Review of the aims of the day Understand Walking for Health Understand the benefits of walking Getting to know the role of walk leader Gain confidence and knowledge needed to lead a health walk and complete the required paperwork Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training

47. Thank you! Walking for Health volunteer walk leader training