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Walk and talk group improving men's health

Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots Six men are walking in pairs across a footbridge in a woodland area. They are taking part in Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots. They wear coats, some have hats and the weather looks cold and grey. There are no leaves on the surrounding trees. Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots
The group began with eight men showing up for a walk in March 2021 - it has since seen about 250 people take part in the walking and talking meet-ups

A men's walking group said its weekly sessions could help take some pressure off the NHS by improving mental and physical wellbeing.

Steve Whitney, 58, from Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots, said he could see the difference joining the Cambridgeshire group, or other local mental health groups, had on people.

Founded in 2021, it was set up to plug a gap in local mental health support after several suicides were reported in the town.

Mr Whitney said the walking group had been "needed" and he had seen about 250 men join since it began.

Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots A group of people stood outside in a park. They are looking up at the camera and smiling. Those on the front row are holding blue signs or T-shirts with Blue Smile on the front, along with a blue smiley face. A white sign with Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots is also being held at the front of the group. There are both men and women - and a dog - included in the crowd of people. Walk & Talk 4 Men St Neots
Mayors Richard Slade and Nik Johnson joined in a challenge to walk 874 miles in seven days

What started with one walk a month eventually became one walk, or more, a week as it grew.

Most recently, the group started a challenge to walk 874 miles in seven days for children's mental health charity, Blue Sky.

Mr Whitney said: "People are feeling better, [it is] helping reduce the number of times someone goes to the doctors or going at all.

"Without a doubt I have seen the improvement in people... it's all about creating positivity in this world and that's what we do, we get out there and challenge ourselves."

'Positivity is immense'

John Eaton told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire he "hadn't looked back" since joining the walking and talking group.

"It's all about turning your mind off... walking in open air, taking in beauty of what is around you," he said.

"What we're trying to do is bring a bit of positivity to what we do, putting back into the community.

"You can see the pride on people's faces, the amount of smiles and positivity is just immense."

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