Assessing the impact of the Paths to Health Programme: 

National Initiative to Promote Walking for Health

 

Paths to Health (PTH) (www.pathstohealth.org.uk) , part of the Paths for All Partnership, is a national initiative promoting walking for health across Scotland.   There are currently more than 200 community walking schemes across Scotland supported by more than 2,500 trained Volunteer Walk Leaders.  Paths to Health also promotes walking through primary health care settings and workplaces.  Community walking initiatives have resulted in a number of case studies being reported that demonstrate people on incapacity benefit joining Paths to Health schemes as 'health walkers', moving on to become Walk Leaders in the community and then eventually moving on to return to employment/education.

Paths to Health is developing a partnership with Edinburgh City Council to assess the impact of Paths to Health's workplace walking tools (training/pedometer packs) on managing absenteeism and supporting employees back to work after a period of absence.

As part of the Employability Learning Network, LWTT has been contracted to produce a full report including key learning points assessing the capability of the Paths to Health programme to provide a mechanism to support people returning to work/education following a period of inactivity specifically in receipt of incapacity benefit.

For more information please contact:

Lizzy Whitehead
Paths for All Partnership
Paths to Health
Inglewood House
Tullibody Road
Alloa
FK10 2HU
Tel:  01259 218888
E-mail: Lizzy.Whitehead@pathstohealth.org.uk