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A local community group in Wrexham welcomed High Sheriff of Clwyd Kate Hill-Trevor and North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin for a visit on 16 March. Erddig Nordic Walkers (ENW) promotes fitness and well-being through accessible exercise to suit all age groups and abilities. Run by dedicated volunteers, the group has gone from strength to strength, with over 180 members now registered.
The group received a grant to grow their activities from the Your Community, Your Choice, which helps support grass-roots projects across North Wales and is supported by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT), the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, and North Wales Police. The funding for Your Community, Your Choice comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest coming from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Nordic walking is a form of exercise where people use specially designed poles to enhance their natural walking experience, ensuring a whole body work out. The unique technique allows people of varying ability and skill to exercise safely.
ENW offers a quarterly programme of events that includes three regular walks per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at various locations in the Wrexham, Chirk, and Llangollen areas. The programme is supplemented by Away Days to go on longer walks, for example the Mawddach Trail, Powis Castle, and Llyn Brenig. Each walk is followed by an informal social meeting offering a great opportunity to develop and foster friendships. With no joining fees and free training, the group relies only on a £1 voluntary contribution per walk.
The High Sheriff, PCC and local PCSO Alison Heron from North Wales Police met the group at their base at the National Trust’s Erddig Estate and joined members for the start of their walk before heading to the estate café for further discussions about Nordic walking and the plans of the group.
Gareth Lloyd, Executive Officer, Erddig Nordic Walkers said: “We enjoyed welcoming the High Sheriff and the PCC to our group walk and introducing them to the pleasures of Nordic Walking. Erddig Nordic Walkers promotes the physical benefits of Nordic Walking - exercise, fitness, health and well-being. However, we provide a sense of belonging and friendship while combatting the effects of social isolation, loneliness and the benefits of this on mental health. The grant will purchase shelving for our storage container, a trolley for conveying equipment and contribution to our transport costs for ‘away day’ activities. All revenue received is used to fund our programme of events and for the benefit of all members.”
Kate Hill-Trevor, High Sheriff of Clwyd said: “I was delighted to meet the Erddig Nordic Walkers and learn more about their activities. With ever increasing evidence about the benefits of spending time outside surrounded by nature and the very small and hopefully affordable donation asked to take part, the group is offering huge and sustainable benefits to physical and mental health, social cohesion and well-being. Why not give it a go…?”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “It was a pleasure to join Erddig Nordic Walkers during one of their regular group meet-ups. My plan for fighting crime in North Wales centres on delivering safer neighbourhoods and supporting communities, something that Erddig Nordic Walkers do week in week out by bringing together older members of society thereby helping to promote companionship and reduce social isolation.”
PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers commented: “Your Community, Your Choice is all about helping groups from across the region access the vital funding to enable them to do their work and I am delighted we have been able to support Erddig Nordic Walkers. Their emphasis on getting out into the fresh air, meeting friends and doing exercise is an example for us all to follow and a positive demonstration of how funding taken from criminals can be put to good use in society.”
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop said: “North Wales Police is pleased that Erddig Nordic Walkers have been able to benefit from money seized from criminals. Organisations like this do excellent work in our communities to provide support to different groups of people and their role is appreciated both by neighbourhood policing teams and the leadership of North Wales Police. We recognise the valuable role they play in liaising with the community to help keep it safe and secure.”
Over the eleven years since Your Community, Your Choice started, almost £600,000 has been awarded to nearly 200 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods and also to support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.
To learn more about PACT visit: www.pactnorthwales.co.uk
To find out more information about Erddig Nordic Walkers and how to join, visit: www.erddignordicwalkers.co.uk