Update: Transition of Walking for Health from Natural England

We have reached another important milestone in finding a new host to provide the central support services for Walking for Health (WFH) schemes nationwide.  Natural England and Department of Health have today (4^th November) sent out a formal Invitation to Tender which is asking those who have an interest in becoming the new host to put in a formal bid.  We hope that the new host would be operating the Walking for Health national support services on or before the 31^st March 2012.

There is no doubt that many things will change as Walking for Health enters an exciting new stage in its development.  We are proud of how well the scheme has worked, and we want to do all we can to ensure its success with its new host.  We would like to thank you and everyone involved with your walking groups for making it such a success, and hope you will continue to work closely with Walking for Health as it enters this new phase.

Changes to support for WfH services

In anticipation of a new host taking over, Natural England will be making changes to the current operation to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.  To help you in your planning we want you to be clear on what these changes are and when they will happen.  We recognise that these changes, and the general uncertainty, may result in some inconvenience for you and local groups, but ask for your patience as we make the transition.

As we approach handover point, Natural England’s WfH coordinating team will progressively reduce in size, and this will be reflected in reducing levels of support for local groups over the next two months.  We will work to minimise the impact during the changeover, but the provision of some services may be affected, including:-

• Insurance for WFH Schemes
• Accreditation
• Training for walk leaders and cascade trainers
• The WfH database
• The Exceptional Service Award
• Availability of publications and other materials
• Volunteer expenses, and
• The website

Details of all these changes are listed in a separate document - "Changes In The Provision of WfH Services". It is important that you read these as they may require early action from you and your Groups

Selecting a new WfH host - the process

• Publication of Invitation to Tender – 4^th November, 2011
• ITT information event – 9th November 2011
• Tenders from those interested to be submitted by 5^th December 2011.
• Invite to present to tender panel – 21st December 2011
• Presentations and evaluation by a panel with representatives of the Department of Health, Natural England and the potential funders (see below) will take place during January 2012.
• Once a preferred bidder has been identified through this process, detailed contract negotiations and ‘due diligence’ checks will be expected to take place in February 2012.
• Assuming this selection process is successful, we would expect a new host to be announced early in March 2012.

Documentation on the Invitation to Tender can be found on Natural England’s Bravo system  (https://naturalengland.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml. This site is designed for those interested in submitting tenders so if you wish to view the documents, you will need to register on the system first, and you will then continue to receive updates).

Funding for WfH 

As part of the Invitation to Tender, there is an option for the new host to enter into a funding agreement with a new Walking for Health partner, Macmillan Cancer Support.  Macmillan have offered to provide funding for three years to support Walking for Health services in recognition of the benefits walking can bring to people living with and beyond cancer.  Macmillan would like Walking for Health to be integrated into cancer care during and after traditional cancer treatment.  Walking for Health would, of course, still be open to all potential participants regardless of their health.

Finally...a big thank you

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all scheme coordinators, group leaders and partners. We know that the work of you do is at the heart of Walking for Health and is the main reason why the initiative is so successful. So we will, of course, keep you up to date on developments through the transition process. 

From now on, the Walking for Health (WfH) website should be the key source of information for walking schemes; walking groups and partners and the WfH helpline (0300 060 2287) will be supported up to the point when the new host takes over WfH.   

With best wishes,

The Walking for Health team