Walking for Health is expanding

The Department of Health agrees and has invested £5.2 million in Walking for Health (WfH).

This is what we are doing with the money:

• More than doubling the number of staff in the regions and nationally. This means we can expand with confidence. 
• Increasing the number of walkers involved in WfH by 400%. This means there will be 130,000 people walking per week by March 2012.
• Working in partnership with Walk4Life, 'Let's Get Moving'  and other NHS exercise projects.
• Making sure that many more people know about Walking for Health. We are doing this through new promotion and marketing plans. 

Who are we trying to reach?

The people we particularly want to reach are those that have the most to gain from getting outdoors and being active. They include:

• people over 65
• people with diagnosed ill health issues (mental and physical)
• families - including mothers and toddlers under
• black and minority ethnic 'hard to reach' groups

Help for schemes

If you are already involved  in Walking for Health, here is what WfH can now offer your scheme:

• well-coordinated training and communications support
• more opportunities to develop your walk scheme and learn from others in your region
• greater support with gaining accreditation, recruiting volunteers, and sourcing funding.

It is clear that encouraging people to get out and about in the natural environment is one of the keys to boosting physical and mental health.

We are delighted at the Department of Health's commitment to expanding Natural England's health walks and are calling on an increasingly sedentary nation to put their best foot forward and enjoy the huge benefits that walking and access to open spaces can provide.

The natural environment is one of our greatest assets - and it is encouraging to see official recognition of the enormous benefits that it provides.

Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England