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Branching Out walks are:
- from 500m to 4km – or as far as you
want to go
- led at a leisurely pace
- following well surfaced routes and have no
physical barriers such as stiles
- providing an opportunity to enjoy the
countryside in the company of other people.
Everyone is welcome and the walk can benefit a
large and varied range of people to include:
- parents,
grandparents with pushchairs, toddlers and family groups
- novice walkers and people who prefer the support of group
walking
- people with visual or hearing impairments, restricted mobility
and wheelchair users
- people with mental health issues
- people with a learning difficulty
- novice walkers and those who prefer shorter less challenging
walks
- people who prefer to walk in a group or enjoy the social
element of doing so
- anyone else who wants to join in
It is hoped that the new group will
receive recognition and support from The Ramblers' to
whom it is also hoped to become affiliated once a steering committee
has finally been formed.
For further information on 'Branching Out' activities please
contact: Tony Smith on 01622 710049
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'Branching out' - All Ability Walking Group
'Branching Out' was the result of an initiative by
Maidstone Ramblers as their response to the Disability
Discrimination Act 1955 Directive from Central Office. The new
all-ability group has been developed in conjunction with the
research project 'By All Means', whose aim is to increase
opportunities for disabled people to explore the countryside.
Report September 2008 from Tony Smith
We now have co-chairmen, a secretary and a treasurer with me
remaining onboard as mentor. We have a breakdown of all the work
that needs to be tackled, from funding to walk programming and the
training of walk leaders and are hopeful (perhaps even a little
confident) that with some further rallying to the cause we can get
this workload sensibly spread among those that have volunteered to
help.
The really good news to come out of this
is that since July 2008 our numbers out on the walks have
quickly risen again. The Mote Park walk the day after the KCC
meeting had 40 people out; our August walk at Sevenoaks Kent
Wildlife Trust had 27 out; the walk at Hadlow on 15th September was
poorly attended (it was both a bad day weatherwise and not a good
venue). Our walk on 25th September at Bedgebury was a great day
out with 35 people in attendance all having a wonderful time.
We are in the process of writing the group constitution and setting
up a bank account. We have already drafted a walk programme for the
next twelve months giving us one walk a month until we can raise
more walk leaders and volunteer back-up. After several months of ups
and downs with meetings and walks I am now hopeful that if we can
keep and nurture the support of those who said they would help us
then we will have a fully sustainable group to go forward with.
However, if there is anyone else out there
reading this who feels sufficiently moved to
help us with this pioneering group I would be pleased to hear from
them.
Tony Smith
Branching Out/Maidstone Ramblers
(01622 710049)
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