Review of the year ~ 2024

wow - what a year....

The end of the year is the perfect time to step back, pause and see just how far you’ve come.

As ever I want to start by expressing my heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s supported & encouraged us, become part of our fantastic (& growing) team or come along on one of our walks and events.

Where are we now?...

From just one little map marker in Cumbria when we began, to maybe a dozen by the end of 2023….
2024 has seen Wellness Walks truly become a national social movement. We’re now established across North-West England, over into the Yorkshire Dales and down to Hertfordshire.
But we’ve also expanded into North Wales and the Scottish Highlands – some big steps closer to achieving our aim of helping as many people in as many places as possible to go on a totally free Wellness Walk.

In just October 2024 there were 30 Wellness Walks!

We now have established volunteers in many places in the UK – but the really exciting thing has been people approaching us to say “how do we bring Wellness Walks to our community?”
Slowly we’re seeing a growing understanding within the third sector and social prescribers that if they’re going to recommend a group or an activity then they need to know it’s a genuine safe space – that participants physical, emotional and psychological safety will be a priority. Wellness Walks offers just that – provably qualified, insured, equipped and supported walk leaders.

Wonderfully though we’re also becoming our own community – often questions in our socials are answered by the other volunteers, our instruction team all take part in chats – they encourage and support each other, share and swap ideas – all the things a thriving community strives for.

12 months later..

As we approach the end of 2024 we’re starting to understand the scale and impact of what we’re becoming.
Some of our recent analysis shows how far participants are coming to get involved with Wellness Walks – how many people are travelling from urban environments to experience the benefits of the natural world.

Feedback from participants is they specifically want to engage with our model – smaller group sizes, the focus being on community and support rather than challenge and status.
We also use this data to inform where and how we’d like to grow, where it seems we’re needed.
We’re all too aware there are still not enough dots on that map!

So lets talk numbers....

people who came on a Wellness Walk

Across the year 2542 people took part in a Wellness Walk – over twice as many as last year!

How many events?

We delivered 306 totally free Wellness Walks in 2024 in 9 different counties across 3 nations.

How big is the team?

As 2024 draws to a close there are now 70 fabulous people in our team – this is compared to 24 at the end of 2023.

More than 'just' walks...

In 2023 we became an official provider of Mountain Training England qualifications and skills courses – in 2024 we delivered 24 courses giving people skills & qualifications as well as confidence & belief.

Facilitating positive change

Nearly anybody will try something once. Real positive change is the going again, establishing healthy behaviours.
Over half of our participants return, 27% of them have now done 10+ walks, a big well done to them all!

Some Highlights of the year....

It’s been such an eventful year – so picking just a few highlights is a difficult task, but this shot of our first ever fundraiser – the Cross Bay Walk is a great reminder of one of the most fun days of the year – we’ll be doing it again in 2025!

Becoming an official charity

As we evolved, started to see our potential, met more and more people – it became obvious that our occasional charitable activities had become the organisations primary purpose.
After a l-o-t of hard work, even more forms and bureaucracy – we officially became a Charity at the end of August 2024.

National Ambitions

Our aim has always been for Wellness Walks to be a national charity helping as many people as possible wherever we can. Our 2023 growth was organic – but as it became obvious the concept was both replicable and wanted we knew that where Wellness Walks went next would be key.

In February 2024 we were asked to bring Wellness Walks to Gwynedd in N. Wales – we were blown away by the number of applications we received – we could have run 10 schemes!

In March we were asked to setup Wellness Walks in the Yorkshire Dales – another huge response.

Then in September we began training our first Scottish volunteers in Highland Perthshire.

All good people wanting to do a good deed, proof that Wellness Walks can work anywhere.

Mission ~~achieved~~ started.

Wellness on Water

Sadly not everyone is able to attend a Wellness Walk – but there are other ways we can safely help people interact with nature and others. This summer we launched Wellness-on-Water and it was a huge success – so much so that its already confirmed to run at least three times in 2025.

Hill & Moorland Leader

Our core volunteer programme begins with Lowland Leader – suitable for the greatest range of locations.

But we’ve always wanted to support those volunteers that want to develop themselves, want to head to higher wilder places – and in 2024 we became providers of the Hill & Moorland qualification and added the two fabulous Helens to our instructional team. Over the summer our first volunteers began their training – we’re hoping they’ll be fully qualified soon- but we’re already receiving applications for places on the 2025 courses.

Personal Skills

As well as training our volunteers to support their communities another core purpose for Wellness Walks has always been to give individuals the confidence and skills to make their own adventures happen. We specifically want to support and encourage inclusive practices in the outdoors and make sure everyone has the opportunity to get in to nature.

During 2024 we supported 40 people to learn these skills via our free and subsidised programmes of Mountain Training Hill & Mountain Skills courses. We ran mixed, men-only & women only courses because people learn best where the feel safest and happiest.

Our aim for 2025 is 100+

We’ll also, because people have asked for it, be launching a 1-day “Hike Skills” course aimed at people wanting to head off path for the first time, take their first steps towards becoming an independent adventurer.

Some final words from our Beneficaries....

“The past couple of weeks have been tough, but these walks have been a lifesaver. They’re a great way to meet new people, relax, and de-stress in a safe and supportive environment.”

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“The company helps a lot as you can forget what is going on in your life and just enjoy the walk & company.”

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“It was an unforgettable experience and has given me the confidence to tackle similar, more adventurous walks on my own.”

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“No brisk frog marching – we all walked at our own pace but were looked after”

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“Great exercise but even better for my mental well-being, as I really came away motivated and feeling positive, and enthusiastic for walking and being out in nature.”

What's next?

The funding landscape in the UK at present is exceptionally difficult – and sadly it remains the case that neither the natural world – or the therapeutic benefits it can offer to support the nations health – are recognised.

We remain fully committed to ensuring that our Wellness Walks programme remains totally free for participants (though if you can afford a donation it helps a lot!) – so in 2025 we’ll be launching some sponsored fundraising events, looking for more commercial support and doing everything we can to support our wonderful team and bring Wellness Walks to even more communities in the UK.

As I type this there are already 16 walks on the system for January 2025 – we know a lot of people will have New Year Resolutions & Christmas isn’t always a happy time for everyone – so why not start the year with something positive and join us for a walk: