Summary

During winter 2021, there was a prolonged period of snow and ice on the ground in Badenoch & Strathspey. We recognised that this was preventing many from getting outside for exercise due to feer of slips and falls. Walking poles are a great way to increase confidence by helping to provide extra balance and stability. In February 2021, we carried out a walking pole amnesty, so see if those with any unused walking poles, would be willing to donate then to help those stuck at home to get out and about.

A daily walk can help to beat the winter blues, socialise safely and boost our immune systems, helping us to look after our bodies and our minds as we head into the coldest weeks of winter.  A walk is especially important for self-care during the current COVID 19 restrictions

Introduction to the activity

The Senior Development Officer for Green Health at NHS Highland worked with the Community Transport Company in Aviemore and the YMCA food bank in Grantown on Spey, to create public drop-off points for unused walking poles. We produced a social media campaign locally and put an article in the press. We published guidance on safe walking in winter on our website at the same time and promoted this on social media. This can be downloaded here

Impacts / outcomes

Over the course of two weeks, 15 sets of poles were donated. They were in mixed condition and after checking over and a thorough clean, 8 pairs and 3 single poles were deemed to be in good enough condition to pass on. The amnesty took place during Lockdown and as such many of the support groups were not meeting face to face. It was therefore difficult to identify individuals to receive poles. The poles were donated to Alzheimers Scotland for use with their clients in their outdoor activities.

The community transport company, upon recognising the need for poles, opted with funding available to them, to purchase several new sets of walking poles for direct use with their clients.

Key learning points

• Adverse winter weather has a direct impact on people’s ability to leave the house in the winter in parts of Highland.
• There were a number of households with surplus walking poles who were very willing to donate however  these were in very mixed condition.
• Waiting until the snow and ice had arrived was probably too late to implement the scheme. A similar scheme in the Autumn may produce better results.
• Walking poles are essential in certain parts of Highland in winter, and are relatively inexpensive, so perhaps better to budget for provision of new poles to ensure they are in working condition.
• A bank of poles for borrowing would be useful for groups supporting those who struggle to get outside in snow and ice.
• Lockdown limited the availability of drop off points in Badenoch & Strathspey due to many establishments being closed and resulted in fewer people taking trips out to public places. A similar scheme run outside of lockdown may have yielded better results.
• Outdoor Centres were closed at the time of the amnesty due to Furlough, but may be a good source of unwanted poles in the future.

Future Plans

Our plan is to encourage groups to consider the purchase of walking poles for their users and to distribute safe walking guidance ahead of the winter 2021/2022.

www.thinkhealththinknature.scot

ailsa.villegas@nhs.scot