More than a walk: Ilkeston project boosts health and community bonds

In Ilkeston, Nordic walking is part of Parkside High’s project (Move More Cotmanhay), working with Walk Derbyshire and other local partners to encourage people to be more active in the area.

Corinna Beaston, a walking leader who works for Parkside High CIC, reflected on the importance of Nordic walking: "It's great for people who might not be as steady on their feet or might have some kind of issues, and as we're doing it in a group it's a very social activity.” 

Susie Lambert, a walking instructor, identified their first steps towards helping the community: "We spent a lot of time getting to know the community, asking what they wanted, finding out the type of walks that they wanted. And we had quite a lot of people coming forward saying that they had long-term illnesses or a disability.” 

One of the attendees reflected on how important this walk was to her: ”I'm recovering from a serious illness, and it just helps build my strength up slowly, and I probably won't do it on my own, so it gives a structure.” 

“We're introducing people that probably wouldn't have come across each other. Friendships are being formed. They're now starting to go out and ask about other walks. We're now working in collaboration with the Monday Strollers walking group. So we've just had the bank holiday walk. That was brilliant. We had 29 people.” Ms Lambert said, highlighting how these walks impact people’s lives. 

“It’s just about mixing people that wouldn't necessarily walk together, getting some fresh air, getting some exercise, a little bit of chance to socialise and the activity level's a bonus.” said Ms Lambert.  

Paul, one of the walk attendees and leader of the Monday Strollers walk, talked about his presence on the walk: ”I've never Nordic before, but I do help lead the Monday Strollers group in Ilkeston and Corinna, who's leading the Nordic Walk group came on one of our walks and said, wouldn't it be good if our groups teamed up and did a joint walk? And we did that last week on Bank Holiday Monday. I've been coming ever since non-stop.”

“It's a better, bigger, more rounded exercise. I feel it gives your arms something to do when you're walking,” Paul said. 

Move More Cotmanhay is introducing new sessions during September.

"On Monday the 15th (September), we're trialling a women's walking session which will be meeting opposite the Cotmanhay Children's Centre at 9:15am, and it's open to anyone who wants to attend who's a woman, and the idea is to provide that safe environment for people to socialise and explore the local area and find out some different walking routes,” said Corinna.

For this session, you don’t need to book, just turn up and if you want more information, you can email them through movemorecotmanhay @ parksidehigh.co.uk  or call 0115 9301000 during office hours or visit www.parksidehigh.co.uk/walk-derbyshire/.