UK charity Hospitality Action’s annual initiative, Walk for Wellbeing, expands into three further UK cities to mark its fifth and biggest year to date.
Originally created and powered by hospitality talent partner mum in partnership with Caterer.com, Lifetime Training and Peoplebank, Oxford, Cardiff and Liverpool will join the fundraising campaign this year, taking the number of host cities to eight.
From modest beginnings in 2020 with a small group of individuals strolling together in London, Walk for Wellbeing has since evolved into a national movement. A staple in the annual hospitality calendar, the event unites hundreds of hospitality companies and thousands of walkers from across the nation each taking proactive steps to improve their own wellbeing and support that of their colleagues. It’s also an opportunity for business leaders to foster camaraderie among employees and drive positive change in the communities they serve.
Everyone in the hospitality industry and beyond is invited to put on their walking shoes and come together for this enjoyable and flexible event to promote mental health and wellbeing while raising awareness and critical funds to support individuals and their families in the hospitality sector who are facing challenging times.
Eight hosted 20km walks will take place in key cities across the UK on Sunday 13 October in London, Oxford, Bath/Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. Those who can’t make that date can ‘Walk It Your Way’ at a location of their choice any time between World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October and Sunday 27 October. Designed with flexibility in mind, participants can choose a convenient time to embark on a long or short walk with family, friends, colleagues and pets.
At present, the leading cause of anxiety in the UK is financial worry and debt. Since the start of 2024, Hospitality Action has experienced record high calls to their helplines and grant applications, with the majority citing debt as the biggest trigger of anxiety leading to feelings of hopelessness and mental health issues.
Craig Prentice, Creator of Walk for Wellbeing, said: “There is an essential need for hospitality businesses industrywide to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their employees – our industry’s continued success relies on it. Walk for Wellbeing is a grassroots movement that promotes selfcare as well as encouraging good employment practises, and it’s rapidly gaining national prominence.
“Community is at the core of hospitality; Walk for Wellbeing connects people locally, raises awareness, educates, unites, nurtures and empowers our community. We invite everyone to join this movement across the UK.”
Register for Walk for Wellbeing today and let’s walk the walk and make a positive difference together.
For more information and to register, please visit www.walkforwellbeing.org
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
Hosted osted 20km walks will take place in the following locations on Sunday 13 October:
London hosted by mum and friends: This popular walk takes place in one of London’s most iconic green spaces, Battersea Park. With an accessible route suitable for all, the walk starts and finishes at the Victorian Bandstand in the centre of the park (enter at Albert Gate) through the picturesque tree-lined central avenue.
Oxford hosted by The Store: Route details to be confirmed.
Bath/Bristol hosted by The Bath Hoteliers Association and The Bristol Hoteliers Association: This flat, traffic free, accessible and leafy route takes in the Bath Bristol Railway Path. The Bath and Bristol walk groups will meet at the Warmley Waiting Room halfway point, before turning back to their starting point.
Cardiff hosted by The Cardiff Hoteliers Association: This accessible circular trail near Cardiff takes you through Llandaff Fields, along the River Taff through Bute Park and Sophia’s Gardens and the wide Pontcanna fields. Catch a glimpse of Cardiff Castle or a bite to eat along the way.
Birmingham hosted by Tonic Talent: Starting and ending at Alberts Schloss in central Birmingham, this walk will take in green spaces such as the scenic Edgbaston Reservoir, parts of Digbeth and some of Birmingham’s historic canal network.
Liverpool hosted by Liverpool Hospitality Association: This accessible walk consists of four 5km laps of Sefton Park. Classified as a Grade One listed park by English Heritage, the magnificent 200-acre park features many distinctive curved paths, driveways and a boating lake.
Manchester hosted by The Manchester Hoteliers Association: Starting at Sale Water Park at the Trafford Watersports Centre car park, the waterside route takes in two water parks, the river Mersey and sections of the Trans Pennine trail.
Glasgow hosted by Davidson Asset Management: Starting at Village Hotel Glasgow, the route offers great views and interesting architecture along two laps of the ‘Bridges of the Clyde loop’ with easily accessible paths suitable for all skill levels
About Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action is the trade charity for the hospitality industry. Registered Charity number: 1101083.
How we help
Behind their smiles and slick service hospitality workers can fall upon hard times just like anybody else. Ours is a stressful industry, with long hours, high pressure environments and physically demanding work. Since 1837 we’ve been here for chefs, waiters, housekeepers and managers. We’ve been here for concierges, receptionists, and kitchen porters. And we’ve been here for every sommelier, bartender, catering assistant and cook throughout the UK.
The last three years have been transformational for our industry, the people who work within it and for Hospitality Action too. We were one of the first UK charities to mount an emergency response to the Covid- 19 pandemic in 2020 and we kept pace with the stop-start nature of re-opening as each wave triggered business closures and increasingly unpredictable employment patterns. Our grant-giving, advisory services and EAP provision continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.
Since the start of the pandemic, we have awarded 12,000 grants, totalling £4,000,000 to hospitality households across the UK and answered tens of thousands of calls via our helplines. Whatever you do in hospitality #wevegotyou.
For more information about Hospitality Action visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk
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