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Walk for Wellbeing (previously known as Walk for Calm) is officially launching on 29th June and is inviting the people of the hospitality industry to join its campaign to promote better mental health and raise funds to support the work of the industry’s benevolent charity, Hospitality Action.

Walk for Wellbeing is powered by UK hospitality talent partner, mum, in partnership with Caterer.com, Davidson Asset Management (DAM) and The Caterer. The campaign is also supported by Sean Wheeler Consulting Limited, Lexington Catering, Tonic Talent, The Manchester Hoteliers Association and The Relationship.

Walk for Wellbeing is a fun, flexible event all about taking simple steps to promote wellbeing. Participants can treat each walk like a journey, as they spend time in the fresh air, moving and utilising their time to reflect and energise. 

Since the onset of the pandemic, Hospitality Action has taken strides to support as many hospitality people as possible. Since the start of 2020, Hospitality Action has spent £2.3m supporting over 7,000 hospitality households in crisis. Many of those face life-threatening illness, homelessness, domestic abuse or addiction, often accompanied by crippling mental health. In 2021 alone, Hospitality Action spent £36,000 assisting hospitality households in Birmingham.

The nation is invited to put on their walking shoes and join a ‘take part any time’ challenge between October 8 – 16, encompassing World Mental Health Day 2022 on October 10. 

Four hosted Walk for Wellbeing 20km events will take place in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, on Sunday 16 October.

THE ROUTE:

The Birmingham route begins and ends in Digbeth, the city’s creative quarter, and will take in street art and some of the city’s green spaces. The walk will be hosted by local hospitality recruitment agency, Tonic Talent.

The walk begins at 10am at Crazy Pedro’s, Custard Factory, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AA. From the Custard Factory the route will head to the Grand Union Canal, accessing it at the Duddeston Viaduct on Great Barr Street. Following the canal under the Curzon Street Bridge and looping around at Aston Junction with the A38 passing above, the route then follows the Birmingham and Fazeley section of the canal through Brindley Place. It will then move out towards Edgbaston, passing Edgbaston Reservoir before a short walk down Summerfield Crescent to access the Harborne Walkway. On exiting the Harborne Walkway, it will pass the Allotments and walk through Harborne towards the Vale before re-joining the canal via the Worcester and Birmingham section heading back into the city. This section is followed through the Mailbox, Brindleyplace, through the ICC and into Victoria Square before stretching back down to Digbeth along the High Street, returning to Crazy Pedro’s.

So far, groups signed up to support the campaign include Albert’s Schloss, Crazy Pedro’s and Roxy Ballroom.

The event is accessible to all ages and abilities, regardless of fitness level. Walk For Wellbeing aims to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Participants are able to have fun whilst bringing awareness to an important issue.

Those looking to participate are able to do so in their own way, individually or as part of a group

by signing up via the Walk for Wellbeing website: https://challenge.hospitalityaction.org.uk/event/walk-for-wellbeing 

Hospitality Action offer vital assistance to all who work or have worked within the UK hospitality sector. As the charity reach their 185th year, the goal is to recruit 185 individuals or teams nationwide to take part in our event this October. 

Founder of hospitality talent partner, mum and Walk for Wellbeing, Craig Prentice, said: “This year’s event is the perfect opportunity for people to show up and walk the walk across the UK. Sign up as an individual, or walk with family, friends, or work colleagues. Let’s make a difference together.”

Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action, said: “Walk for Wellbeing not only helps employers foster a positive culture around workplace mental health, it will also raise vital funds at a critical time for the hospitality industry. Demand for Hospitality Action’s support is at an all-time high and we estimate that a third of all the requests for financial assistance we currently receive are from people suffering from, or at risk of, poor mental health. We expect the situation to worsen as the cost-of-living crisis bites in the autumn and are grateful to all those taking part in Walk for Wellbeing.”