Scottish charity calls on businesses to see the benefits of walking at work.
Scotland’s walking charity is calling on Highland businesses to get walking at work as part of National Walking Month this May, with a scheme that recognises the importance of staff being active during the working day.
The Paths for All Walk at Work Award recognises and celebrates employers across Scotland who help to promote everyday walking in their workplace, creating a healthier work force, both physically and mentally.
Aimed at encouraging workplaces around the country to explore different ways to get staff active, in and around the working day, the award scheme also promotes wellbeing and a green environment in the workplace.
The charity recently awarded the 50th certification to East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, who used the scheme to encourage their staff to remain active during the working day by providing a programme of lunchtime Health Walks for staff.
As part of the programme, it also provided links and information which were made readily available to staff through a dedicated a wellbeing website, as well as facilities for staff who travel actively to and from work.
Brenda Tait leads Walk at Work activities for Jacobs UK office in Scrabster and plays an active role in promoting workplace working.
She said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Walk at Work Award and for me, I gained a great deal – connecting with new employees whilst out walking, giving something back by participating in a local beach clean, slowing down just a little to take notice of our beautiful surroundings, keeping active throughout the day and banishing the mid-afternoon slump, and learning little things about each other and about some of the walks we undertook.
“It was a great “feel-good” healthy initiative to be part of and I’m sure I lost a pound or two along the way as well.”
With the 50th certification being awarded, Paths for All hope that more workplaces around the country will now want to get involved with the scheme.
Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All stated:
“Walking a little more each day has proven benefits to mental and physical health, which is why it’s important that we recognise the workplaces who have received the Walk at Work Award.
“We hope that the work East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership has done will help to inspire other businesses to get certified, and help them become a happier and healthy workplace.
“The Walk at Work Award is an important scheme, which can benefit businesses across the country to not only get fitter but also help to improve the environment.
“By choosing to walk for short trips instead of driving, an individual is improving their health while also reducing air pollution and emissions that are damaging the planet.”
Paths for All’s mission is to support Scots to have the opportunity to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle every day, creating a happier, healthier and greener Scotland and is celebrating National Walking Month by encouraging everyone to put a “Spring in your Step” this May.
For workplaces, Paths for All provides support which includes a free Workplace Walking online course and bespoke Step Count Challenges.
The national spring Step Count Challenge, run by Paths for All, kicked off on Monday, 29th April, with over 800 teams taking part.
The charity works to create more opportunities and better environments for everyone in Scotland, no matter who they are or where they live, to stay active through walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling.
For more information about the Walk at Work Award, visit: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/walk-at-work-award
For more information about Paths for All, visit: www.pathsforall.org.uk
