Vwl training slides 1 28

Volunteer Walk Leader Training Course

Walking for Health

[insert Cascade Trainer name and job title]

www.wfh.naturalengland.co.uk


• Aims of the day• Natural England• Walking for Health

Section 1: Welcome and Background



The Training Day

Aims of the day

Natural England & Walking for

Health

Physical activity and

health

Benefits and barriers to

walking

Planning, organising

and delivering a

walk

Walk Leader’s

role


Aims of Today

• Be aware of the health benefits of regular walking.

• Be familiar with the paperwork required. • Know how to plan a route and recognise

hazards.• Understand the role of the leader at the start,

during and at the end of a health walk.• Be confident and happy to lead a health walk


The Role of Natural England

“More people inspired to enjoy, understand and act for the natural environment”

This is achieved through the Walking for Health programme which aims to;

“ Encourage people to walk more in their local area to improve their health”


.

A Natural Health Service

To enable every GP or Community Nurse to be able to signpost patients to an approved health walk or outdoor activity programme

“ In order to maintain a healthy weight we need to both eat well and move more”


Walking for Health

• There are more than 600 health walk schemes across the country

• With over 3800 active volunteer walk leaders; and

• 5700 walks being led; and• Over 69,000 regular walkers.


WfH in [insert your locality]

[This slide should be customised to provide information on your local WfH programme]

• When the scheme started• The number of walks and where they are• Number of regular walkers• What you want the trainees to aim for


• Regional Adviser• Training and Toolkit• Insurance• Accreditation• Evaluation• Marketing materials• Electronic newsletters• Website

WfH Toolkit of Support



Section 2: Physical Activity and Health

• What is health?• Benefits and barriers• How much activity? • Why walking?



What is Health?

‘A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO definition)

Physical

Social

Environ-mental

Mental


Influences on healthGeneral

socioeconomic, cultural and

environmental conditions

Age, gender and heredity

factors


How is our Health?

A number of medical conditions are increasing in the general population, including…

Mental health problems Obesity Diabetes Coronary Heart Disease


Physical Inactivity and (ill) Health

Being physically inactive

Is one of the leading causes of illness and death in the UK

Costs the NHS £8.2 billion per year

Has the same effect on risk of heart disease as smoking 20 cigarettes per day.o Source HSE report 2008


How Risky is Inactivity?

Risk factors for coronary heart disease

01020304050607080

Inactivity Cholesterol Blood Pressure

Smoking

Female

Male

Percentage of population at risk

Source: HSE Statistics 2008


Adults participating in activity for at least 10 minutes in last 4 weeks

16-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465-74 75+0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Men Women

• Adults meeting the CMO recommendations for activity:

• Men – 39%• Women – 29%(Source HSE 2008)


Benefits and Barriers


How Much Activity Is Enough?

5 x 30Minutes

moderate intensity activity a week


Why Is Walking So Good? Most people can join in… No special equipment Low impact Varied pace Increase pace/distance gradually Many physical and mental health

benefits Not age or cost-related Socialising!


Why Is Walking So Good?

At any paceo Mental health benefitso Helps to prevent diabetes and control weighto Increases ‘good’ cholesterolo Benefits immune system / reduces bowel cancero Reduces risk factors for falls in the elderlyo Can help reduce progression of osteoarthritis/osteoporosis o Improves muscle strengthAt a ‘brisk’ paceo Improves functioning of heart and lungso Reduces blood pressure


Mental Health and Well-being

Being physically active can: Improve psychological well

being in older adults Enhance self-esteem Alleviate short-term stress Aid recovery from stress-

related illness Decrease likelihood of clinical

depression


Section 3: Leading a Health Walk

• What is a WfH walk?• Demonstration walk • Components of a health walk• Moderate intensity walking



What is a Walking for Health Walk?

“A purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis, as part of a led group”


Demonstration Walk


Components of a Health Walk

• Outdoor Health Questionnaire and register

• Warm up

• Brisk walk

• Cool down

• Socialise.


Health Walk


The Main Message

Walk at a brisk pace which makes you;• Breathe a little quicker• Feel warmer• Have a slightly quicker heart beat

This moderate intensity pace should be comfortable and you should still be able to talk!

Education

Vwl training slides 1 28