Shirley Blanch
Project Director
Conversation Starter Project Community Interest Company (CIC)
The Challenge
Shirley and project co-founder psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo were aware that there was an increasing problem with loneliness and isolation post-pandemic within their community. The extended periods of social distancing and lockdowns had left many individuals isolated and feeling disconnected from others in their communities. They realised that this lack of social connection not only affected mental health but also had adverse effects on physical health. They therefore saw an opportunity to address the increasing levels of isolation and loneliness through a non-clinical intervention, involving gentle exercise and conversation.
‘I would like to say that walk and talk has changed my
life. Not only has meeting for regular walks improved my mental health, but also my physical health. It gives me something to look forward to each week and I’ve made some amazing lifelong friends there too. There is a terrific mix of ages, sexes etc and it’s impossible not to not make friends. I’d recommend it to anyone and, in fact, regularly do.’
Positive feedback from walkers on improvement to their physical and emotional health
The Innovation
To address the issues of loneliness and isolation in the community post-pandemic, Tara and Shirley were inspired by research such as Houlden et al. (2018), which highlights the positive impact of green spaces like parks and gardens on mental health and social connectedness. They decided to launch and host free “walk and talk” sessions in local green spaces. These sessions aim to foster community engagement, enhance social networks, and promote individual well-being by encouraging participants to connect with one another while enjoying the benefits of nature.
The sessions included comprehensive safeguarding and risk assessment protocols to ensure participant safety, so that the project was able to reach as many people as possible. They hosted the walks free of charge to participants, with no booking required in order to reduce potential barriers to attendance. They ensured that the time and walking route remained the same each week so attendees could join the walk if they were running late, as they would be familiar with the route and walkers were always free to leave the walk at any point if they felt the need to do so. This meant that there were fewer barriers to joining and it made the walks more accessible for those struggling with their mental wellbeing.
They also ensured that the routes were kept to a manageable distance and on public pathways, allowing those with restricted mobility to attend, including those using mobility scooters for example.
The safe space provided, plus walking in green spaces has encouraged conversations between the participants in a way they may not have engaged in previously. New connections and friendships have grown out of the sessions and people now meet independently from the group.
Shirley and Tara have continued to develop the walk and talk sessions setting the project up formally as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in August 2023 and now often have a physiotherapist from the local Musculoskeletal (MSK) service attending their Horsham walks. In addition, they have built connections with other organisations and social prescribers who signpost to their project.
Whilst the Conversation Starter project provides free walk and talks for the community, Shirley and Tara always had a vision of extending their project to include training and education, which they have now started to do by delivering wellbeing training sessions to the local voluntary sector. They continue to develop wellbeing training initiatives including training others to use this model to set up their own walk and talk groups. They also aim to extend their offering and ran their first community coffee morning earlier this year which was attended by local councillors and other community stakeholders as well as some of the walkers themselves.
Following their weekly walk and talk session:
The Impact
- Patient:
- Improvements in the physical health of those who attend the walks
- Enhancements in emotional health and wellbeing
- Friendships and peer support networks have developed as a result of attending the walks
- System:
- Increased referrals from community and primary care providers such as Musculoskeletal health (MSK) and social prescribers
- Increased awareness of non-clinical interventions to support mental health needs across the local area
Houlden, V., Weich, S., Porto de Albuquerque, J., Jarvis, S., & Rees, K. (2018). The Relationship Between Green Space and the Mental Well-Being of Adults: A Systematic Review. PLOS ONE, 13(9).
