Evaluation FAQs

What is evaluation?

Evaluation means using information you’ve collected about your project to make helpful judgments about it. Read about the basics on our page 'New to evaluation?'.

Why evaluate Walking for Health?

We evaluate WfH so we can see whether we are achieving our aims, and to provide evidence of the impact WfH has had. Read more about our national evaluation »

At a local level, evaluating your walk schemes will help you track progress, make improvements and report to funders. Read more about local WfH evaluation »

What advice can you give about local WfH evaluation?

Don’t leave it till the end! Check out the information on our local WfH evaluation page or contact us if you have a specific question.

How is Walking for Health evaluated nationally?

We monitor information about walkers and walks using the Outdoor Health Questionnaire and the WfH Database, and complement this with a range of other research, some complete and some still ongoing.

What is the Outdoor Health Questionnaire?

The Outdoor Health Questionnaire (OHQ) is a simple form used by walk schemes to screen new walkers for health conditions, and collect data to help evaluate Walking for Health. Read more »

What is the WfH Database?

The WfH Database is a national online database that holds information on walkers and walks, as input by walk schemes. It provides a means of monitoring and evaluating WfH at local and national level. Read more »

What evaluation studies have you done / are you doing?

While it was the host of Walking for Health, Natural England carried out:

• A large-scale phone survey into the physical activity levels of WfH participants;
• Studies looking at a) the motivations of walkers and b) the experiences of those who have stopped;
• A demographic analysis of walkers.

Still to be completed are:

• A cost analysis and cost-effectiveness study;
• An analysis of the patterns of attendance of WfH walkers;
• Tests to confirm the validity of the physical activity question we use on the OHQ.

A number of academic institutions have worked on joint WfH research, including De Montfort University and Leeds Metropolitan University.

Where can I see the results of your studies?

Completed research reports are here. We’ll add new reports as and when they become available.

What other information is available?

You can view information about related topics such as physical activity, health, Green Space and mental health. You can also read some WfH case stories.

Is your question not here?

Contact us and let us know.