Hammersmith and Fulham Council is co-ordinating a bid for funding from the New Opportunities Fund for a Walking the Way to Health (WWTH) scheme in the Borough. The bid is being prepared by Paul Collins, a consultant with the Health Enterprise Partnership on behalf of the Council and the West London Health Promotion Agency. The Council’s Agewell and Better Government for Older People groups are involved in the project group. The bid will be submitted before the end of March 2002.

The WWTH scheme will involve the promotion of walking to people who have suffered from or are susceptible to heart disease (and other health problems) and will aim to encourage them to take up regular walking as a form of rehabilitation or preventative exercise. A number of walking routes will be identified for people to follow, and walk leaders will be appointed to lead group walks. Particular sections of the community will be targeted, including in particular ethnic minority groups. A leaflet and map will be produced to promote the benefits of walking and show the suggested routes.

The National WWTH scheme is supported by the British Heart Foundation, The Countryside Agency, the New Opportunities Fund and Kia Cars (!). Visit the web-site at www.whi.org.uk .

If you would like more information about Hammersmith and Fulham’s WWTH project, to volunteers as a walk leader or to involve your group please contact Paul Collins on (Tel.) 020 8743 4967, (Fax.) 0870 169 0423, Email: p.Collins@clinicalexercise.co.uk . For general information about the Council’s physical exercise programmes please contact Kristine Coan, the Council’s Health Strategy Development Officer, Policy and Equalities, Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London W6 9JU. Tel 020 8753 3454. Email kristine.coan@lbhf.gov.uk