Wrose Walkers: Building Community One Step at a Time
Published on 15 December 2025 10:14 AM
In February 2025, Wrose Walkers began after local residents expressed interest in a regular walking group. The goal was simple: to create a friendly, welcoming space for people to get outdoors, stay active, and connect with others in their community.
The group’s walks are around an hour long, following accessible routes that start and finish at the Wrose Hub and explore nearby streets and pathways. The first walk attracted five people. Friendships quickly formed, and thanks to a wonderfully dry spring, the group grew steadily with weekly Thursday morning walks.
“I always feel good after our walks!”
Today, the group has 15 members, with an average of 10 people joining each week. Most walkers came on their own initially, but they’ve since built strong connections, swapping walking partners, sharing conversations, and enjoying laughs together throughout the hour.
“This is a lovely group, who go out of their way to make you welcome.”
Along the way, the group has learned more about each other, about Age UK Bradford District, and about the local area itself. Some walkers have lived in Wrose for over 50 years and enjoy sharing memories and stories as they stroll.
The group’s enthusiasm soon led to a second meeting each week. Using their WhatsApp group, members now also meet on Monday afternoons, offering more flexibility for those who wanted to walk more often or at a different time of day.
One walker recently brought along her sister-in-law, who had very recently lost her husband. While still grieving, she found comfort in the walks, saying that simply getting out and meeting people made a difference.
“Thursday is a day to always look forward to. To chat to people and have a good reason to get out of the house.”
The sense of community extends beyond the walks themselves. In December, one member suggested finishing a walk at the local pub and sharing a meal together. Nine walkers joined, creating a warm end-of-year celebration.
In less than a year, Wrose Walkers has grown into a supportive, positive, and proactive group — showing how something as simple as a weekly walk can bring people together, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community ties.
If you'd like to join something similar in our local area in the Bradford district fill out this expression of interest form: