Project Title: Carers: Ready, Set Walk
Award: £7,966
Date: June 2021 – March 2022
The Problem
“I am putting my health needs on a back burner as all my physical and mental energy goes on caring for my husband” – (Carer, 2021).
Many carers suffer poor health due to their caring responsibilities. The pandemic also had a huge impact on carers and their families, which resulted in many becoming inactive, isolated, and low in confidence.
Carers First recognised that there are a huge number of carers providing unpaid care in the London Boroughs of Newham, Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest, many of whom are vulnerable and isolated.
The Project
Heart Research UK awarded Carers First a grant to facilitate a project which aimed to get carers and the people they care for active, improving their physical and mental health.
The project benefited 124 unpaid carers. Group members attended ‘Walk and Talk’ peer support walking groups, which were accessible in local parks, as well as being informal, friendly and suitable for all abilities. A ‘Stepstember Challenge’ also took place, whereby participants were encouraged to virtually walk the distance of Britain during September 2021.
Healthy food hampers, pedometers and activity trackers were also used to incentivise involvement and encourage more physical activity in the future. Carers were also offered motivation, encouragement and peer support via a Whatsapp group.
The Benefit
Walking provides a whole host of benefits for physical and mental health, and for these carers, it also provided much needed respite and a chance for them to focus on their own health. The project took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved a success in encouraging carers to get out of the house and be active after long periods of shielding and isolation.
The project supported positive change to people’s lifestyles and achieved the following:
- Successfully reached 124 beneficiaries.
- 27% of the carers who participated in the Stepstember challenge increased their number of steps.
- Walks gave carers a break from their caring responsibilities
- The walks have attracted a core group of carers, attending monthly.
- Carers are using and continuing to use their trackers after the project to monitor their overall health, in particular sleeping patterns and blood pressure
- The walks have provided carers with valuable peer support, friendships and made them feel valued and boosted their confidence.
- The project also supported carers mental health which has encouraged them to ve healthier and more active
Case Study
One group member said the walks carried out in the park were nice because they allowed her to exercise even with a troublesome hip, and she had the opportunity to do it with other carers who understood what she was going through as a carer. She found the sessions a good opportunity to meet other carers, make friends and exchange information.
“Thank you for the walks it was a lovely experience, and I would like it to continue.”
Testimonials
“I didn’t realise this park was easy to get to. It’s prettier than my local one to walk around”.
“I’m using it (tracker) to check my health, it means I have got more information to tell my doctor”.
“I enjoyed meeting up with the other carers, it’s nice to walk with others and chat as you are walking”.
“I never knew I walked as much as this. It’s encouraging me to get out and walk as well”.
“Well done. You’re all inspiring me. I did 50,464 steps which is a lot more than usual. I’ll attribute it to running up and down the hospital while mum was in there this week after a fall”.
“Hi everyone. My last set of steps are 31135. I would never have done this much walking without the encouragement of Steptember challenge. It’s been fun”.
