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
Our led 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 walking.
This programme is co-ordinated by the physical activity service and delivered with the help of qualified volunteer health walk leaders.
- The basic weekly walks last for approximately one hour
- Health walks meet at different locations within Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
- No referral from your GP is needed- the walks are open to all adults and accompanied children under 16 years
- Specific women only group walks are also offered.
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 those 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 an ‘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 0161 655 1478. If you require information regarding the Female only walks please contact Aliya Shah on the same contact number.
