As a volunteer walk leader you will help people in your community to get active and healthy, providing vital support that they otherwise might not get, whilst staying active yourself.
Roles and responsibilities of a walk leader
The roles and responsibilities of a walk leader include:
- making sure everyone is safe and happy during a walk, walk leaders are at the front, middle or back of a group
- checking a route and familiarising yourself with it before leading the walk
- welcoming walkers to the walks, particularly new walkers
- giving a brief talk before the walk to make sure everyone is prepared
- making sure paperwork such as registration forms and registers are completed
- leading and managing walks (usually with other walk leaders) which includes ‘back marking’ or ‘middle marking’ as well as leading at the front
- making sure walks are welcoming, friendly, enjoyable and safe: following our best practice guidelines and the requirements of your scheme
- attending occasional walk leaders’ meetings and refresher training
The skills you will need
The main skill we need from our volunteer walk leaders is an enthusiasm for walking and its benefits.
You don't need any particular experience, but we love our leaders to be:
- friendly and welcoming, with good communication skills
- reliable, punctual and well organised
- confident at speaking in front of small groups
- able to take control and be assertive when needed and observant and sensitive to the needs of others
Training courses
In order to become a walk leader you will need to attend a training course.
We recommend you attend a health walk prior to a training course to familiarise yourself with the roles and responsibilities and experience a health walk first hand.
Walk leader training dates for 2024
Thursday 9 May 2024
Thorncombe Wood 10.30am to 1.30pm
Wednesday 22 May 2024
Gillingham 10.30am to 1.30pm
Tuesday 4 June 2024
Microsoft Teams 10am to 1pm
Thursday 13 June 2024
Wimborne 10.30am to 1.30pm
Please complete the Walk Leader Enquiry form to register your interest in becoming a walk leader.