Biggest GM Walking Festival yet set to get Greater Manchester moving  

Greater Manchester’s biggest celebration of walking and wheeling yet gets underway on Wednesday 1 May with more than 350 events planned for the 2024 GM Walking Festival.

Co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Moving, the Active Partnership for the city region, the festival sees groups, charities, individuals, and many others put on free, group-led walks.

Together, the walking and wheeling events make up the annual Greater Manchester Walking Festival, which coincides with National Walking Month.

The festival provides everyone with an opportunity to boost their mental wellbeing and physical health as well as bringing people and communities together.

This year’s festival is particularly focused on those least likely to be active, particularly those who may struggle with a long-term health condition.

One in four people in England live with a long-term health condition, and are twice as likely to be inactive, completing less than 30 minutes/week of physical activity.

This is despite overwhelming evidence that being active outweighs any risks for people with long-term health conditions and can help manage many conditions.

In Bury, people with a recurring illness or medical condition are getting extra support to walk and wheel more through Bury Council’s community wellbeing walks.

Their first festival event is on Friday 3 May at 10.30am taking in the River Irwell, Burrs Country Park, and The Lamppost Cafe.

In Charlestown, a Community Health Awareness Walk will take place at Boggart Hole Clough on Saturday 4 May to raise awareness on health issues and sickle cell/blood donation.

On Monday 6 May, Pennine Mencap are running a Walk or Wheel Club from their Oldham base at Rhodes Bank Chambers to support those with learning disabilities and autism to move more.

Later that week (Thursday 9 May) in Bolton, a dementia-friendly walk from The Woodland Trust is supporting those with early onset dementia and their families at Smithills Estate.

And there’s a lung health and community wellbeing event on Saturday 11 May in Whalley Range from Joy Ethic with expertise and support from BreathChamps.

It’s also set to be a busy month in Stockport with Lifeleisure and Age UK running a series of free, group walks to support this year’s GM Walking Festival.

Weekly community walks will run from Stockport Sports Village with indoor confidence walks for those with long-term health conditions available in Avondale, Bramhall, Brinnington Park, Offerton and Woodley.

Walking is a fantastic tool for supporting better mental wellbeing and, to align with Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), GM Ringway are hosting a mindfulness event.

Join them on Saturday 18 May at 1.30pm for a rejuvenating day at Chorlton Water Park, where you’re invited to unwind and reconnect with nature through walking and meditation.

With hundreds of different group walks to choose from, you can search on the GM Walking Festival website for walks based on distance or grading, proximity to public transport, accessibility by wheelchair, buggy-friendly walks, and routes close to cafes and pubs.  

Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead GM Walking, said: 

“This May we’re encouraging everyone to get walking and wheeling and explore their local area, discovering new places to walk, socialise, and have fun by moving more regularly. 

“GM Walking supports everyone to walk regularly in their neighbourhoods and we hope to inspire everyone to do a little bit more by taking part in this year’s festivities  

“We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful region – enjoying the great outdoors is just one of many reasons people may wish to get walking this month. 

“There’s also the amazing mental wellbeing benefits; better sleep, relieving stress, and building new friendships and connections through group walks.”

Everyone is invited to the GM Walking Festival and you can discover the full programme of free, group-led walking and wheeling events on the GM Walking website: https://gmwalking.co.uk/festival-routes/ 

ENDS

Notes

A Communications Toolkit for partners to promote the GM Walking Festival to their networks is available from Andrew, see contact details below. There are also lots of resources (social media, imagery, guidance) available via the GM Resource Hub.

For interview opportunities with Louise Robbins, or for any further information about the GM Walking Festival 2024, please contact:

Andrew Lawton
Strategic Lead – Marketing and Communications
andrew@gmmoving.co.uk | 07962 567458