Sunderland Walking Network Needs You!!

The volunteer led Wellness Walking Programme has grown significantly since it began in September 2010, and has seen the number of walkers accessing the programme grow significantly, currently attracting almost 200 walkers per month! The Wellness Walking Programme is just one of the many successful walking programmes in Sunderland and is managed by Sunderland City Councils Wellness Service who are also responsible for arranging and chairing the Sunderland Walking Network Meetings. At the network meetings groups, partners and organisations from across Sunderland and the North East come together to share ideas and best practice for walking to ensure we all work in a joined up way. These meetings too are also proving to be a success.

‘Friends of’ groups are now becoming well known as a concept. A Friends group is a group of people who come together with a common interest. The group is run on a voluntary basis and is set up as an organisation in its own right, with a management committee, constitution, policies, meeting schedule and its own bank account. 

We are aiming to set up a ‘friends of’ group for the Sunderland Walking Network in order to strengthen the sustainability of the current walking programmes and network meetings as well as to possibly access future funding opportunities for future walking programmes and developments as the walking network progresses over the coming years.

Forming a friends group will also get more people involved, bring different skills and new ideas to the table, and assist with the promotion of schemes to new walkers through different networks and events.

We are therefore looking for a broad range of individuals to become part of the Management Committee for the new ‘friends of’ group. Roles include; 

· Chairperson

· Treasurer

· Secretary 

· We are also looking for a number of other individuals to make up and represent the group. (It is recommended that we have at least 6 individuals as part of the group and no more than 12).

At the meeting we will be: 

· looking for interested individuals to express an interest to form the Committee as per the above

· drafting up and discussing a proposed Action Plan, Meeting Schedule and Constitution

· discussing training requirements and opportunities for interested members of the committee 

· receiving professional support & guidance from Rob Charlton from VCA Sunderland 

· answering any questions you may have

The next meeting for interested individuals can be sought by contacting the Physical Activity Development Officer, T: 561 4693, or      
E: laura.bartlett@sunderland.gov.uk