The founder, Esther, set up the group though Facebook after the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage people to walk their dogs together after realising many other people were walking their dogs alone.
She wanted to set up a group to help address loneliness and encourage people, particularly retired or those struggling with mental or physical health or new motherhood, to meet others (and their four-legged friends) by walking in their local area.
“Because I have a support worker people think they don’t need to invite me to things. It is nice to socialise with other people where my support worker can come with me.” A regular walker with a visual impairment.
With support from Jackie at the Good Neighbour Network, the first walk was organised for March 2023 at Worcester Woods with coffee at the Countryside Centre afterwards. There are now 342 members on the Facebook group. Esther is now a registered Health Walk Leader and members continue to meet up for regular organised, ad hoc walks and coffees and share pictures in the Facebook Group.
“You’d be amazed at the amount of people who walk their dogs alone, and I realised it would be nice to share the walk with company. Thank you.”
This story was created as part of the Celebrating Community Stories Project 2023 – 2024. Public Health at Worcestershire County Council worked with organisations across the County to find out what keeps Worcestershire healthy, active and creative. To find out more about the Community Stories Project visit Celebrating Community Stories (worcestershire.gov.uk)