Boost your confidence, improve your mental and physical health and make new friends, all by going for a short walk.

Walking is especially good for people who are coping with a long-term health condition, when getting out to do exercise can become even more difficult.

Maybe you know someone who is no longer sure how far they can walk and is worried about risking a fall and making things worse. They may be feeling isolated, losing confidence and getting bored.

Making those first steps to getting out and feeling well again is a big challenge – as big as training for a marathon.

Research indicates that many long- term health conditions improve with gentle exercise. This is why Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support have teamed up with many local volunteers nationwide through Walking for Health to deliver short walks in their communities.

Rosemary Aldgate, from Kennington Strollers, explains: “There have been health walks for the last ten years in Kennington and many people who join in have benefited from walking in all sorts of ways.

“We hope to encourage people to start walking for exercise. A Health Walk is defined as a short purposeful walk of between 30 minutes and one hour. Walking is possibly the perfect exercise; giving so many benefits to health and well-being — and it’s free.”

She continued: “To sustain these short walks over the longer term, and to continue to increase people’s activity levels, Health Walks need supportive volunteers who are willing to help with the walks. “This could either be as a walk leader who decides the route to be taken, or as a walking assistant willing to walk alongside a walker at their gentle pace. “You need not be especially fit. In fact it helps if you have personal experience of managing a long-term health condition and appreciate the impact that can have on your life.

“There is a one-day training course available to help new walk leaders understand their role.”

If you would enjoy a gentle walk or want to help provide support for short health walks please contact Rosemary Aldgate of Kennington Strollers on 07903 978 038 or send an email to rosemary@gardneraldgate.demon.co.uk