How to start a walking group?

wanchai_2

Hello

First post here so be gentle!

The evenings are getting dark, Christmas is coming and the party dress is getting tight! So I've been asking around my friends if they fancy going walking once or twice a week but they are all surgically attached to the couch and can't be shifted!

I've been on Meetup.com to try to start a social walking group in Belfast, but they took me to a payment page!! I'm not keen on paying to start one up (not very MSE ) so have you got any suggestions? Alternatively I would be happy to start a thread here and see who fancies signing up.

Grateful for any replies. Thanks in advance!

Artytarty

Why not try posting an ad. on Gumtree. Its free and has a section for hobbies and community activities.
Sorry, dont mean to sound like I think you shouldnt try on here first!
Arty.

wanchai_2

Thanks artytarty. I will do that.

Also, if any MSEers fancy starting a walking group you can PM me or reply to this thread

sparky40

What area u in wachai?

wanchai_2

sparky40 wrote: »

What area u in wachai?

South Belfast (Lisburn Road).

I tried to post an ad on gumtree but have no idea what category to put it into.

Bannsider

I am a walk leader for Newtownabbey Walking to Health Group which walks every Wednesday morning.

The Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland (02890 311611) should be able to put you in touch with someone who can advise you.

To quote from their site:
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The Walking for health initiative was introduced in 2001 to encourage people to participate in regular short walks in their communities. Since then, approximately 1,500 people have been trained as volunteer walk leaders and over 100 new walking groups have been established across Northern Ireland."

The Northern Health Board have helped us with such matters as training for walk leaders, insurance, heart start training, applying for grants for equipment (bibs, whistles etc.) and I am sure that there would be something similar in the Belfast area.
[/FONT]

Jaime-V

Bannsider wrote: »

I am a walk leader for Newtownabbey Walking to Health Group which walks every Wednesday morning.

The Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland (02890 311611) should be able to put you in touch with someone who can advise you.

To quote from their site:
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The Walking for health initiative was introduced in 2001 to encourage people to participate in regular short walks in their communities. Since then, approximately 1,500 people have been trained as volunteer walk leaders and over 100 new walking groups have been established across Northern Ireland."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Northern Health Board have helped us with such matters as training for walk leaders, insurance, heart start training, applying for grants for equipment (bibs, whistles etc.) and I am sure that there would be something similar in the Belfast area.[/FONT]

Bannsider, any walks in Newtownabbey in the evenings? I would love to walk but work during the day. Sorry I can't call that number in work either.

TIA:beer:

BigAl94

This any help? http://www.walkni.com/UsefulWalkingInfo.aspx?ID=16

LMac

I used to be part of a walking group in my area (was during the day, but same ideas apply) The only place I ever saw it advertised was in the local library, but you could try contacting local community centers, churches and maybe local gyms to see if they would be happy to put up a flyer?

Bannsider

Jaime-V wrote: »

Bannsider, any walks in Newtownabbey in the evenings? I would love to walk but work during the day. Sorry I can't call that number in work either.

TIA:beer:

Jaime

I don't know of any in the evenings. Ours has Tuesday night walks in the summer. Try contacting Neil Luney [EMAIL="nluney@newtownabbey.gov.uk"]nluney@newtownabbey.gov.uk[/EMAIL] and he would know if there are any walks in the area.

:beer:

Irishexplorerazl

Hi - just to let you know there are actually 2 local walking groups which pretty much walk all year round but usually at weekends.

1. Northern Ireland Young Walkers (NIYW) - check out their website niyw.multiply.com

2. Belfast Hills Walking Dynamos - check out their website meetup.com/belfasthillstours-com

You really don't want to set up your own walking group if you can help it .... the complications of insurance, arranging meet ups et al.

Hope this is useful!! Zoe