NOMINATIONS are open for the 2023 Scottish Walking Awards which will celebrate organisations who are striving to make us more active.
The awards, which happen every two years, will honour a variety of walking groups from businesses, councils and charities who inspire people to step out and improve their activity levels.
Heather Macleod, sport and physical activity development officer at the Good Move Walking Team, said: “Walking and being active is essential for our physical, mental and social wellbeing.
"Being active regularly has many long-term health benefits such as reducing our risk of heart disease, stroke and developing type 2 diabetes as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
“However, there are immediate benefits too such as relieving stress, improving sleep and boosting your mood. The beauty of walking and wheeling is that it is free and accessible for all no matter your age of ability. You also do not need any special equipment to take part.”
Nominations are encouraged from across Scotland, including the projects that support those in wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
There are 10 categories for the awards as well as an overall champion who will be named during National Walking Month in May.
Organisers for the event include Ramblers Scotland, Paths for All and Living Streets Scotland.
Stuart Hay, Living Streets Scotland director, said: “In the two years since the first Scottish Walking Awards, we’ve seen so many projects flourishing in communities to make sure everyone has the opportunity to walk and experience safe and enjoyable walking environments.
"We want to celebrate these projects and the vitally important role of walking essential everyday journeys for the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
“Promoting walking is particularly important in light of stress and hardship in society brought about by the cost of living crisis.
"We want to celebrate all the fantastic work that’s going on all over the country, in areas such as social housing, health care, community organisations, workplaces and local authorities.”
The public can nominate themselves, another organisation or person who they believe has done inspiring work to promote walking during the last two years.
Kevin Lafferty, Paths For All chief officer, said: “I’m encouraging people to enter the Scottish Walking Awards to recognise the fantastic work happening in Scotland to make walking and wheeling accessible to everyone.
"Collectively, we can showcase the transformative role walking plays in reducing health inequalities, lowering carbon emissions, and improving the environment.”
Nominations can be made online before the deadline of March 19.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here