GoGolspie/Pedal Pursuits Led Walks and Rides Case Study
Summary
This project was carried out in Golspie, East Sutherland. Although centered around a village many of the population live in remote settings and can be at risk of social isolation. Public transport options can be limited and many of the population rely on vehicles to travel. The local development trust, in partnership with a qualified walk/ride leader, hosted a project that would encourage people to take part in activity in the outdoors.
The project was open to all and the aims included
Supporting those who had lost confidence in accessing the outdoors, this could be through poorer health, fitness or social isolation.
Giving people the skills to be able to take part independently in active travel solutions including walking and cycling.
Background
GoGolspie Development Trust are based on the East Coast of Sutherland and their main purpose is the: advancement of community development (including rural/urban regeneration) Relief of poverty Provision of recreational facilities. Projects they have delivered include running a local community transport service (minibus, electric car) from Golspie across Highland and supporting groups across the North to train volunteers with MIDAS training. They host and deliver a community food larder and essential emergency 24hr food pantry. They host activities and events like the lunch club, community markets and the community cinema. GoGolpie also holds several assets including a YMCA building and community hall. For this project they looked to work in partnership with Pedal Pursuits, a group that supports people to get outdoors by building confidence in walking and cycling.
What we did
Following discussions between GoGolspie, Pedal Pursuits and the Hub’s CDO for Caithness and Sutherland, GoGolspie submitted an application to the Climate Action Fund. With a successful outcome GoGolspie and Pedal Pursuits were able to plan and deliver sessions almost immediately.
Their application focused on:
Supporting a minimum of 6 weeks of their affordable Active Travel project delivering 2 walks and one led cycle ride per week with a qualified team leader. The format has been developed to support those with just an hour to spare, who are maybe less fit, and the strolls are not power walks so open to all.
The led bike rides are sociable risk assessed rides on easy terrain. These are delivered by a qualified ride leader who ensures that they are suitable for participants. This helps riders to feel safe as they don’t have any worry about how to manage any traffic on route and know the ride will be at a steady pace with chances to stop and rest. The leader introduces the groups to new routes and points out areas of interest in the local area.
Access to the outdoors supports mental health as well as improving fitness and increasing confidence in accessing nature. The Highland Charter for Climate, Nature and Health explores the linked nature of climate anxiety, mental health and access to the outdoors.
What we learned
The sessions attract a mix of people. Attendees include- people who have just moved to the area and looking to make connections. People who are older or socially isolated. People looking for a gentle first step into fitness or supported outdoor activity. People who have lost confidence in outdoor skills, both walking and cycling and looking for encouragement and support. Once people had come along once they came back and encouraged others. They also reported being more confident in exploring the outdoors independently and with other groups without a leader. Some attendees travelled more than 30 miles to attend. Some reported scheduling their week around the planned outings. Several bought their own bikes or cycle equipment to make more use of cycle routes and using bikes for short journeys. The attendees were generally a good mix of genders.Often it is reported that older men are harder to engage in social engagement and activities, but this activity attracts several men of all ages and fitness abilities. Attendees reported that they felt more knowledgeable about their local area and more connected to their environment.
Reflections
For many attendees the led walks and rides were a central part of their week. In a remote and rural area social isolation is a high risk factor for poor mental health.
Connecting with nature and green health prescription is promoted by Public Health Scotland (Think Health Think Nature) as a non-clinical method of improving health. The co-benefits of climate mitigation are beginning to be better understood. Encouraging people’s confidence in getting into nature helps people feel connected to their environment, better able to appreciate the importance of nature, and more resilient to future changes. (See links in Further Information)
GoGolspie and Pedal Pursuits both highlighted how valuable these sessions are to the attendees but spoke about how challenging it can be to find funding for a, relatively low cost, ongoing project. They felt the focus for funders was generally new initiatives and projects.
Next steps
The group have continued to build on the skills developed by offering similar sessions to a wider area.
They have also expanded their offering to include balance bike sessions for young people. Linking with Curriculum for Excellence, this is improving pupil’s balance and coordination. Schools have reported that many more pupils are joining school with the ability to ride. This improves confidence with cycling and general bicycle safety, and some schools have approached to cycle leader to provide further education to pupils around road safety. Confidence in cycling encourages more people to take part in active travel for short journeys.
At the hub we are able to share the learning from this project with other areas and work with the self-employed instructor on other cycle initiatives. Connections have been made with the Far North Rail Partnership who are looking to create active travel solutions at train stations, with hire bikes available.
Resources/Further Information
Welcome to Golspie - Go Golspie Development Trust
Golspie Walk & Talk – Walking Scotland
Highland Charter for Climate, Nature & Health
Think Health Think Nature – www.thinkhealththinknature.scot.nhs.uk
A healthy future – tackling climate change mitigation and human health together | Royal Society