Three new walk groups to be launched in Salford

Three beginner walking groups have been launched in Salford that will aim to combat loneliness and improve fitness in the community.

The charity MileShyClub have started the new groups across three locations and are welcoming people of all abilities to join in.

MileShyClub began eight years ago and became a registered charity six years ago – launching in Sale which saw 33 people to attend the first session.

Since then, the charity has expanded and led to beginner run clubs being launched in Salford, with groups being led in Worsley, Salford quays and Swinton.

MileShyClub are keen to increase their brand presence in Salford; by opening more running clubs in the area to reach more people who want to get active or want to make connections and help people get moving.

The walking groups will be hosted throughout the week being hosted every Monday at 11am in Peel Park, every Tuesday at 10.30am at the Transcend and Tribe in Eccles, and Thursday at 11am in Victoria Park, Swinton.

The sessions, funded by the Sport England for the year, will aim to cater to everyone and adapt to everyone involved.

Each session will be led and delivered by an advanced walk leader and encourage people to get back into fitness.

Founder and CEO, Jane Dennison, said: “Getting active doesn’t mean that you have to run a marathon. For us, it’s about having fun when you’re doing it,

“It doesn’t matter how fast you are. And our motto is, no one gets left behind.”

She continued: “When I was in a teenager and in my early 20s, I had really bad mental health, I tried to take my life, I’ve been in a psychiatric hospital, I’ve been homeless, and I managed to get back on my feet.

“Running has really transformed my life, and exercise in general has made me a much happier person.

“It’s been the thing that was the most effective with poor mental health. I just thought, I want to give this back. I don’t want my life to be working making lots of money in a law firm, I want my life to be about helping other people.

“And I want to look back on life and go, you did that,” she added.

And as the charity has continued to grow, it has opened itself up too many people in the community and helping combat fitness and loneliness.

The charity has 15 beginner running clubs across four Greater Manchester boroughs, with 120 volunteers and 53 run coaches.

Mental health groups have also been a focus for the charity, with a group in Trafford funded by achieve through Salford CVS.

The charity aims to go to a borough, start with running clubs, introduce walking clubs, then start up mental health groups, hoping to have more mental health groups this or next year.

Mileshyclub also prioritises working with people undergoing cancer treatment – introducing talks around the topic with organisations and discussing how the community can be involved in supporting them, and to get people moving to help with their physical health alongside treatment.

They want to combat loneliness, poverty, and help people get more active and confident, allowing them to get back to work and make friends.

Jane added: “Down the bottom of the road is a club where they’ll always be welcomed, where they’ll always have a hug if they need one,

“I’m proud of it, and I’m proud of the people and because it’s not just me now, everybody’s on the same page. Everybody’s on the same mission, which is to help people.”