The outdoor walk around King’s Park has been planned for later this month to build on their work in the city to bring people together – including a successful book club initiative.
A mental health support charity is looking to continue to help bring people together across Stirling with their latest ‘walk and talk’ initiative.
The Back Onside group, headquartered in Cambusbarron, aims to help people improve their wellbeing and protect their mental health.
The organisation has already expanded a popular book club at a Stirling shop which attracted a strong response of locals keen to use the power of reading to connect and make new friends.
But the charity has decided to go further and launch their outdoors project in the city’s King’s Park at the end of this month, with people urged to come along for a one-hour walk, meet other people and have a chat in a low-pressure environment.
The informal status of the gathering is designed to take the pressure off those coming along and enjoy the spring weather.
Back Onside founder and CEO, Libby Emmerson, also hailed the potential impact of gatherings such as the ‘walk and talk’ sessions on reducing the pressure on stretched mental health support services.
Ms Emmerson said: “Here at Back Onside, we’re doing everything we can to continue supporting people in our local community and beyond with their mental health.
“Peer-to-peer support is so important – sometimes it’s just about having a chat, feeling listened to, and realising you’re not on your own that can be vital for someone struggling.
“That’s why we’re excited to launch a walk and talk group – a relaxed space to get some fresh air, enjoy gentle exercise, and meet new people. “As demand for our services continues to grow, initiatives like this also play an important role in easing some of the pressure on our one-to-one and crisis call-out support, which remain extremely busy.
“We’re seeing first-hand the impact of the cost of living on people’s mental health, so this is a no-cost, low-pressure way to get out of the house.”
The sessions will kick off from the gates of the park, near Stirling Golf Club, beginning at 10.30am on April 29 – with no cost and all welcome.
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