Health Walk Volunteer Training
Volunteer with Health Walks to make new friends, give back to your community, and help others to be more active and reap the health and wellbeing benefits walking has to offer.
About Health Walks
The Health Walks scheme welcomes over 300 regular walkers a week in and around North Somerset. We currently have Health Walks in Cheddar and Churchill, Clevedon, Long Ashton, Nailsea, Portishead, Weston-super-Mare, Winscombe, Worle and Yatton. The current programmes can be found on our Walking page.
All walks are free to attend and are designed to help people make the first steps into being more active. Hear what our walkers have to say about their experiences and what it means to them: Health Walks feedback
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering with Health Walks will give you the opportunity to keep fit, meet new people and get out in the fresh air. You’ll also be helping us to get more people out enjoying the countryside and keeping active.
Previous experience isn’t necessary as volunteers get training before starting their role.
About the training
All Health Walk volunteers start by attending a 3 hour training session. You will learn how to run a safe and enjoyable walk for all.
Once you’ve attended the training, you’ll be advised to join an active health walk group and shadow an existing walk leader/backmarker and then progress onto co-leading or supporting a walk.
All new volunteers will be supported by experienced leaders and given time to learn the existing routes.
There is also the opportunity to obtain basic First Aid training.
Roles available
Typically, a walk requires a leader and backmarker, but there are lots of other roles that are equally important. Your role during a walk depends on what you feel most able and comfortable to do.
There is no obligation to become a walk leader and plan the routes. Some of our volunteers find that they prefer to be a mid or backmarker and encourage, motivate and socialise with participants, or support with the organisation and administration for the walks.
There is no expectation of time commitment – you can volunteer as little as an hour per month, or more frequently. There are many different walks throughout the week including weekends and summer evening walks.
Next training date
Our next training day will be in February 2026, please contact us if you are interested in attending on: 01275 882 730 or email: getactive@n-somerset.gov.uk
