UK charity Hospitality Action’s annual fundraising event, Walk for Wellbeing, continues to grow in its sixth year by welcoming five new UK cities to the initiative.
Powered by hospitality talent and recruitment partner mum in partnership with Caterer.com and Imperial London Hotels, this year’s event sees Cornwall, Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle and York join the grassroots movement bringing the total number of host cities to thirteen.
Since its creation in 2020, Walk for Wellbeing has evolved from a small gathering into a nationwide initiative. It unites hundreds of hospitality professionals from all corners of the industry, encouraging them to take proactive steps towards their own wellbeing while supporting their colleagues. The event also provides employers with a powerful way to strengthen team bonds, boost morale and demonstrate their commitment to employee wellbeing whilst making a meaningful impact on the wider hospitality community.
Everyone in the hospitality industry and beyond is invited to lace up their walking shoes and come together for this flexible and inclusive event which promotes mental health and wellbeing, while raising awareness and critical funds to support individuals and their families in the hospitality sector who are facing challenging times.
Thirteen 20km hosted walks will take place across key UK locations in October. York will host the first walk on Sunday 12 October, followed by walks in Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Cornwall, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, and Manchester on Sunday 19 October, culminating with Newcastle on Monday 20 October.
For those unable to join a city hosted walk, ‘Walk It Your Way’ – taking place anytime between World Mental Health Day on Friday 10 October and Sunday 26 October – provides the flexibility to participate anywhere, any time. Whether walking on your own or with friends, family, colleagues or pets, participants can choose a route and distance that best suits them.
Passing the torch
After five incredible years dedicated to creating and growing Walk for Wellbeing into a national call to action, Craig Prentice, founder and director of mum, has gifted the brand to Hospitality Action. Now recognised as a flagship activity for the charity, the event has taken huge strides in elevating the importance of wellbeing in hospitality whilst raising vital funds.
Craig will remain closely involved as a strategic advisor, steer and spokesperson for the initiative, and mum will continue as lead partner and host of the London walk.
Craig Prentice, creator of Walk for Wellbeing, said: “After five successful years, now is the perfect time for me to gift Walk for Wellbeing to Hospitality Action, whilst remaining involved to supporting in growing the reach and significance of the initiative. I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved, from humble beginnings in lockdown with groups of 10 walking in a handful of locations, to a national movement across the country. It has captured the hearts of thousands of hospitality people and clearly demonstrates their commitment to promoting the importance of physical and mental wellbeing for our people in the sector.”
Mark Lewis, CEO of Hospitality Action said: “Under Craig’s leadership, Walk for Wellbeing has grown to become one of the most important and impactful events in the hospitality calendar, and we are honoured to take forward the legacy he has created. The event perfectly marries our need to raise vital funds to support our work with our mission to improve the wellbeing of everybody in the sector. With the growing number of cities joining us this year, we are excited to see the event expand even further and continue what Craig started, ensuring more hospitality professionals across the UK have the opportunity to take part and make a real difference in their communities.”
Register for Walk for Wellbeing today. Let’s walk the walk and make a positive difference together.
For more information and to register, please visit www.walkforwellbeing.org