Our Social Prescribing for Bray and North Wicklow team ran a free six-week Social Walking Group for their clients over the summer.
Over the course of the programme, up to 30 people took part each week in a gentle 45-minute walk on Bray seafront, followed by tea, coffee and a chat in a café overlooking the sea.
“Getting outside of my own mind and engaging with others.. enjoying talking to others, as I tend to shut myself away.”
The idea was to promote physical health and wellbeing in a social context in the community and the programme was run in collaboration with the amazing Bray Primary Care Mental Health team / PARC project.
“Talking to other people can be very interesting and enjoyable… I feel happier in myself, and more inclined to do things, particularly walking.”
The eagerness to engage and diversity of ages, genders, nationalities, and abilities within the group, exceeded our expectations, with over 30 people walking some weeks!
“I really enjoyed meeting people from different countries and listening to their stories’. It’s been great in meeting new people… I would love to do this again and highly recommend this programme to other people”.