Training

Volunteer Walk Leader Training:

This is a one day course, delivered locally. It is aimed at volunteers who want to lead ‘health walks’ to the general public in their communities or surrounding areas. The course provides practical advice on how to lead a walk safely and how to encourage and motivate participants.

By the end of the training day, participants will be able to:

• Relate the local project to the wider context of promoting walking nationally;
• Provide an outline of how walking benefits your health and wellbeing;
• Explain the amount of physical activity that is recommended for it to benefit health;
• Recognise the barriers for why people may not be able to participate in a walking programme;
• Explain what a ‘health walk’ is;
• Outline the roles and responsibilities of a Walk Leader;
• Conduct risk assessments for the walks that they lead;
• Make sure that the walk is safe and is able to recognise potential hazards.

Wales has over 50 Cascade Trainers to deliver the Volunteer Walk Leader’ (VWL) training. Courses tend to be held when there is a need locally and could depend on new walks starting or a high expression of interest fro volunteers. It is advised that you make contact with a walking project in your area for more information about dates of forthcoming courses click here.

Insurance for VWLs

All volunteers who are trained through the recognised 'Let's Walk Cymru'* Volunteer Walk Leader Course are eligible to receive free insurance cover. If you are part of a wider programme you should check whether with the co-ordinator of the scheme is insured. If the scheme is then you will be covered under the scheme’s policy from the date you completed your training. If you are leading walks on your own and don’t belong to a scheme, you will need to apply on your own behalf. If this is the case, please contact letswalkcymru@scw.org.uk.

* Previously known as ‘Walking the Way to Health in Wales’.

For further information and FAQs regarding the insurance cover, please click here to enter the relevant section on the WHI England website.