Ipswich Mayor joins walk to mark second year of extended ‘walking and cycling for wellbeing’ project

The walk is part of the ‘walking and cycling for wellbeing’ pilot project which recently celebrated two years of free activities. A group of eleven participants, group leaders, the Mayor and Cllr Debbie Richards enjoyed the winter sunshine before heading back to the Town Hall where participants enjoyed a tour of the civic regalia.

Over 300 Ipswich and Lowestoft residents have taken part in the free activities to date since the pilot was launched in 2022. From beginner “cuppa and a stroll” meet-ups to moderate cycling and walking groups to more advanced sessions, all the groups offer Ipswich and Lowestoft residents an opportunity to take greater control of their health and wellbeing.

Suffolk County Council was awarded £1.495 million in November 2022 from Active Travel England to run the three-year pilot. The project has now been extended by a further 12 months and will run until November 2026.

Feedback to date from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, some of the comments include:

• “Cycling has now become an integral part of my routine and a hobby that I look forward to. The benefits I've experienced, both physically and mentally, are too valuable to give up.”
• “Excellent instructors, Good exercise in a fun way. And you can make new friends as well.”
• “I have always enjoyed the weekly cycling activity, more specifically, the enthusiasm of the group is a big motivator. Since we began this group exercise, I have become more confident in cycling and also learnt a lot about the beautiful cycling paths around Ipswich.”
• “This confidence and experience have inspired me and I feel motivated to continue to cycle for as much as possible.”
• “My stamina and strength have improved. Mentally I feel refreshed after every session. Also, I've learned a lot about cycling techniques and safety practices.”

Cllr Alexander Nicoll, Suffolk County Council’s deputy cabinet member for transport strategy, said:

“It is great to see the success of this project here in Suffolk and the impact it’s having on individuals’ mental health and physical wellbeing.

“Not only can social prescribing ease the burden on our healthcare services, it empowers people by giving them more choice and control over their lives and, by coming together with others for group activities, an increased sense of community and belonging.

“I look forward to seeing what the project achieves in its final two years, as we continue working with communities in Suffolk to get active and improve their wellbeing.”

More details can be found at: https://walkingandcyclinginsuffolk.org.uk, email thewaytogosuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk or telephone 01473 260060.