Monday Marina walks - what they mean to me

Participant Paul shares his experience of joining AUKG’s gentle walking social group in Tewkesbury

Paul is 68 and has been blind from birth. He lives in Tewkesbury and is a member of the Cotswold Male Voice Choir who have performed on Clarkson Farm!

He works two days a week at GCHQ as an accessibility officer focusing on digital inclusion for the disability community.

However, Paul was finding it difficult to find guides to support him with his walking. He had also fallen victim to a 3 year coercively controlled relationship from using an online dating app. He hit rock bottom.

So, he decided to join Age UK Gloucestershire’s Gentle Walking group where he resides at Marina Court in Tewkesbury. At first it took him a while to gain his fitness but he enjoys the walks because “you chat along the way and each walk is different”.

Over time Paul’s mental health has dramatically improved. “I enjoy the social engagement with the other members of the group and being out in the fresh air. Every walk is different.”

Since joining the group Paul has made some genuine friendships, and now has a lot of friends. He has learnt how helpful and fun people can be, regaining his confidence and trust in others.

Being part of the group has encouraged Paul to sometimes take his own walks. He enjoys the coffee and cake and said, “If I hadn’t joined, I would be less connected to other people and have a lot less friends.”

Paul now encourages others to join the group stating, “You have nothing to lose, and you’ll meet some nice friendly people.”

Age UK Gloucestershire run two Tewkesbury Gentle Social Walking Groups – one at Marina Court on Mondays at 10.30am and another at Northway Parish Community Hub on Fridays at 10.30am.