Objectives

1. Develop an understanding of the activities required before, during and after a group walk

2. Understand and manage the situations that may come up

3. Introduce Risk Assessments

4. Identify best practice and top tips for organising a group walk

1 Purpose of the walk

2 Planning the route

3 Carrying out a risk assessment

4 Communications and promoting your walk

5 Managing the walk

6 Evaluating and learning for next time

Step by Step

Route Planning

Who are your walkers?

How long do you have?

When is the walk planned for?

Places to avoid

Refreshment areas and comfort breaks

Emergency access

Risk assessment

You will need to walk your route and make a note of hazards and potential risk areas

A risk assessment is to:a) identify any riskb) put control measures in places to minimise that risk

e.g. The risk: fast moving traffic at road crossingThe control measure: take group further down the road to cross at pelican crossing

Make a copy of your risk assessment and keep it, along with a copy of a map of the route(s), for your records

Group ratios

Recommendation (for insurance purposes) - 1 leader for 20 walkers

We strongly recommend that every group of walkers should have at least 2 walk leaders, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. We would advise that larger groups have third, or an assistant in the middle

Promoting your event•Posters and flyers•Intranet•All-user emails•Social media•Word of mouth•Any other option available to you in your setting

Managing your walk

At the start of the walk

1.Register

2.Welcomes & Introductions

3.Walk Overview

4.Health and Safety points

5.Check that everyone is ready – begin walk

Managing your walk

During the walk

1.Manage the pace (keep an eye on the time!)

2.Be observant and vigilant, looking out for hazards, especially when crossing roads

3.Check that all walkers are comfortable and able to maintain the pace. Walkers should be able to talk and walk at the same time

4.Manage your rest breaks. Make sure you don’t lose track of time or the walkers!

Managing the walk

After the walk

1.Check all walkers have returned

2.Congratulate all

3.Advise of when the next walk will be

Avoiding emergencies

Dynamically risk assess (assess as you go) – e.g. a walk suitable for normal good summer weather may be very arduous during a heatwave – change your route or shorten the walk. Similarly a good winter walk in normal weather may become treacherous in the event of snow and ice.

Always carry water with you

Don’t take chances – e.g. call off walks in icy conditions, and e.g.2 if someone complains of chest pains, stop the walk and follow first aid procedures