Local Activities
There are lots of ways you can get active in the borough, with a number of programmes, clubs and activities running throughout the year. A full range of sports club and leisure activities can be found on the Link4Life website. However, here are some other ways you can get more active.
Health Walks and Cycling for Health
Our led cycling and walking sessions have been developed to support local people who currently do little or no exercise and who want to become more active and enjoy the benefits of regular cycling or walking.
This programme is co-ordinated by the physical activity service and delivered with the help of qualified volunteer health walk and cycle leaders.
- The basic weekly walks last for approximately one hour
- Health walks and led cycle rides meet at different locations within Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
- No referral from your GP is needed- the walks and cycle rides are open to all adults and accompanied children under 16 years
- Specific women only group walks are also offered.
Cycling for Health
Our weekly Cyclying for Health courses include cycling skills for beginners, pedal bike maintenance tips and a short led cycle ride.
Tuesdays- Queens Park, Heywood
Meet John and Mike from Cycling Projects outside the café for a short 1 hour cycling session around the park. The free use of 10 cycles are available (Booking is advisable: Contact Shila on 01706 517624). Either attend the 11am or 1pm sessions. If you haven’t ridden a bike for some time and you require a little advice and encouragement this is the activity for you.
Wednesday- Truffet Park, Langley
Meet John and Mike from ‘Cycling Projects’ at 11am outside the park buildings for a short 1 hour cycling session around the park and surrounding areas, possibly including Bowlee Country Park nearby. The free use of 10 cycles are available (Booking is advisable: Contact Shila 01706 517624).
Thursday- Broadfield Park, Rochdale
Meet John and Mike from ‘Cycling Projects’ at 11am for a short 1 hour cycling session around the park. The free use of 10 cycles are available (Booking is advisable: Contact Shila 01706 517624). This particular cycling session would suit those who require more support to learn how to ride.
Health Walks
Walking is a great way to kick-start your new active lifestyle, whether you want to improve your fitness, lose those extra pounds or walk depressive blues away. There are a number of weekly health walks meeting across the borough in all four townships.
What is Walking for Health?
Your Walk and Talk Health Walks have been developed to support local people who do little or no exercise and who wish to become more active, gaining the many health benefits of regular walking. These local health walks are part of a wider network of health walks available across the country under the national umbrella of ‘Walking the Way to Health.’
- Your weekly health walks are led by trained volunteer Health Walk Leaders, hand picked for their caring and friendly nature.
- For your piece of mind, our health walks programme has the ‘Walking the Way to Health’ Accredited Scheme status.
- Health walks range form 30 minutes to 2 hours in duration.
- For your convenience our local health walks are circular walks, starting and finishing at the same meeting point, on a set day of the week.
- Weekly ‘Female only’ health walks are also available.
- Health walks meet come rain or shine, the only time we do not walk is in Winter when slush has turned into ‘knobbly’ ice.
- Health walks are free, family friendly and fun.
- In the interests of safety no dogs please, except guide dogs.
Who is it for?
Walking for Health led walks, suit both inactive people and people who are isolated in need of some encouragement to continue walking regularly. As the name of the health walks suggests ‘Walk and Talk,’ the walking programme has an increasing social circle with an ever growing variety of people attending to improve their health. Many of the regular walkers attending with long term health conditions or mild mental health issues have found the health walks have had a positive effect on their health.
What do I need to do?
No referral is required, just turn up in flat comfortable footwear and a coat to protect you from the cold and rain. Remember your sunhat and sun cream in hot weather. You will be asked to fill out a ‘Outdoor Health Questionnaire’ on your first walk.
Please click here to access the local ‘Walking for Health’ leaflet for the meeting points, days and times of your health walks.
If you require any further information please contact the Health walks Coordinator Michael Pearson on 01706 517624. If you require information regarding the Female only walks please contact Aliya Shah on the same contact number.
MEND programme for children
MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it! It is a programme that aims to reduce childhood obesity by providing specialists activities for overweight of obese children. For more information please call 0161 655 1458 or see the MEND website.
