A bit About us
Goring Gap Health Walks were born in April 1998 out of a Power Walking Group run by Veronica Reynolds.
Veronica and GP Dr. Rhys Hamilton decided to form a Health Walk Group, similar to the one set up by Dr William Bird in neighbouring Sonning Common under the banner of the then Countryside Agency's Walking for Health Initiative (WHI).
Leaders were recruited and trained from within the power walk group and the timetable set.
The timetable was limited to four walks on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but has since expanded to include a longer, walk early on Saturday morning.
Veronica's volunteer time came under pressure as the group expanded at a pace, and Bernard Novell took on some of the administration. Veronica finally relinquishing the role of Coordinator to Bernard in 2004.
A web site was set up and some of the regular leaders took on specific roles including record keeping, leaders rosters, publicity and finance.
In 2008 GGHW celebrated their tenth anniversary with a series of special walks followed by a garden party.
The number of walkers continued to climb and more leaders were trained from within the group.
Numbers fluctuate year to year, often influenced by the weather.
The second generation web site that you are exploring right now was launched in January 2013.
At the end of the 2013 season we looked back at our records spanning ten years and were staggered to find that over that period we led 2,500 health walks. the records also show that there were just shy of 50,000 'person walks' undertaken.
In 2018 we celebrated our 20th year of health walking in Goring with a carvery lunch and afternoon tea events.
Health walks have been overseen by the Countryside Agency, Natural England and lately Ramblers, but the ethos has remained unchanged until 2021. Ramblers are closing WfH and launching Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (RWW). This transition is due to complete at the end of 2021.
Veronica and GP Dr. Rhys Hamilton decided to form a Health Walk Group, similar to the one set up by Dr William Bird in neighbouring Sonning Common under the banner of the then Countryside Agency's Walking for Health Initiative (WHI).
Leaders were recruited and trained from within the power walk group and the timetable set.
The timetable was limited to four walks on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but has since expanded to include a longer, walk early on Saturday morning.
Veronica's volunteer time came under pressure as the group expanded at a pace, and Bernard Novell took on some of the administration. Veronica finally relinquishing the role of Coordinator to Bernard in 2004.
A web site was set up and some of the regular leaders took on specific roles including record keeping, leaders rosters, publicity and finance.
In 2008 GGHW celebrated their tenth anniversary with a series of special walks followed by a garden party.
The number of walkers continued to climb and more leaders were trained from within the group.
Numbers fluctuate year to year, often influenced by the weather.
The second generation web site that you are exploring right now was launched in January 2013.
At the end of the 2013 season we looked back at our records spanning ten years and were staggered to find that over that period we led 2,500 health walks. the records also show that there were just shy of 50,000 'person walks' undertaken.
In 2018 we celebrated our 20th year of health walking in Goring with a carvery lunch and afternoon tea events.
Health walks have been overseen by the Countryside Agency, Natural England and lately Ramblers, but the ethos has remained unchanged until 2021. Ramblers are closing WfH and launching Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (RWW). This transition is due to complete at the end of 2021.
WfH Accreditation
In January 2008 GGHW were awarded the WfH Accreditation, one of the first groups in the country to receive this.
The accreditation was renewed in January 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
To gain this award again in 2014, GGHW have needed to:
The accreditation was renewed in January 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
To gain this award again in 2014, GGHW have needed to:
- Meet the definition of a Health Walk
- Meet WHI safety and insurance standards
- Collect basic monitoring information
