Three years. £9,741 of funding. More than 75 people reached. Countless conversations, friendships and shared experiences.

Sometimes, something as simple as going for a walk can make an extraordinary difference.

Fresh air. Movement. A friendly face. A conversation. A little laughter.

And, perhaps most importantly, knowing that you are not alone.

Over the past three years, Survivors Of aBuse (SoB), working in partnership with West Wickham Health & Fitness (WWHF), has brought people together through our Breaking the Cycle – Walk, Talk & Support project, made possible by funding from Walking and Cycling Grants London (WCGL).

What began as an opportunity to encourage physical activity, improve mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation developed into something much more meaningful: a community built on friendship, confidence, kindness and connection.

Three years of walking together

Our journey began in 2024, with activities designed to support peri- and postnatal women, people experiencing mental health challenges, survivors of abuse and trauma, and members of our local communities.

Our first year included a focus on peri- and postnatal walking opportunities, recognising the importance of physical activity, social connection and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and following childbirth. Although reaching this particular group proved more challenging than anticipated, we adapted our approach to create a more inclusive programme.

Throughout all three years, we welcomed women and men of different ages, backgrounds and abilities. Our walks took place mainly on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, alongside additional special walks and community events.

We offered a variety of activities, including Walk & Talk sessions, fitness walks, leisurely walks, pole walking and silent disco walks.

From St James’s Park in London to Norman Park, Keston Ponds, Spring Park, St John’s Fields, Well Wood, West Wickham and Coney Hall, we explored parks, towns, woodlands and countryside.

One particularly memorable experience was our approximately ten-mile countryside walk from Sevenoaks Weald to Penshurst Station in Kent, bringing together 22 participants.

“Walking regularly is so good both physically and mentally. I will continue to walk in the countryside throughout the year.”

— Maria, walk leader

Maria’s words capture something we hoped to achieve from the beginning: helping people discover the confidence and motivation to walk independently and with others as a group.

Sometimes, one-to-one support made all the difference

Not everyone feels comfortable joining a group straight away. For people experiencing anxiety, isolation, mental health challenges or the effects of abuse and trauma, taking that first step can feel overwhelming.

That is why our project also included individual one-to-one walking and support sessions for people who needed a more personalised approach.

These sessions provided opportunities for gentle physical activity, conversation and connection in a supportive environment, responding to people’s individual circumstances and needs. For some, simply having someone to walk alongside them made participation feel more manageable.

We wanted people to feel included, supported and able to participate in a way that worked for them.

The difference £9,741 made

Across the three years, Survivors Of aBuse received £9,741 in WCGL funding:

• 2024: £4,931
• 2025: £2,930
• 2026: £1,880

As funding reduced, we adapted our delivery to make the available resources go as far as possible.

Our reports indicate that more than 75 different people participated, with many returning regularly for weekly walks. But the true impact of this project cannot be measured simply by the number of people attending or the miles walked.

It is reflected in the friendships formed, confidence gained, healthier habits developed and positive changes people experienced in their everyday lives.

What our participants told us

The most powerful evidence of our project’s impact comes from the people who joined us.

“Joining Chris’s walking group has opened up my world, social and friend wise. Walking for exercise has been good for my mental health.”

— Patricia

“It’s helped me meet new people and get out and about in my new local community.”

— Geraldine

“The walks helped me improve my physical health, boost my mood, and feel more connected to my community.”

— Julie

“Everyone is caring and looks out for each other on these walks.”

— Brenda

“Turn pain into power.”

— Tracy

One particularly memorable comment captured the joy of getting outdoors:

“Even when it has rained on us, I have felt alive.”

These words remind us why community projects like this matter. For some people, joining their first walk represented a significant step towards overcoming anxiety or isolation. For others, it was an opportunity to discover new places, improve their fitness or develop friendships. For many, walking became a regular part of their lives.

It was never just about walking. It was about connecting with others and feeling part of something.

What happens next? Keeping the connections alive

As our three years of WCGL funding come to an end, we want to be open about what happens next.

We currently have no funding available to continue providing professionally led group walks or individual one-to-one walking support. However, we do not want the friendships, confidence and community connections created through this project to disappear.

Our intention is to explore opportunities for informal, peer-to-peer walking, where participants can continue supporting one another and arranging walks together when opportunities arise. Exactly how this will work, including the frequency and coordination of activities, has yet to be developed.

We cannot promise the same programme of professionally led activities without funding, but we hope that the friendships and walking habits established over the past three years will provide a foundation for the future.

We would also welcome opportunities to secure further funding so that we can once again offer structured, professionally led activities to people who need them.

The funding may have ended, but the connections it helped create do not have to end with it.

A heartfelt thank you

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Walking and Cycling Grants London, funded by Transport for London in partnership with The London Marathon Foundation and administered by Groundwork London.

Thank you for believing in our vision and providing the funding that made this project possible. Your support enabled us to bring people together, encourage physical activity, improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and help people develop meaningful friendships.

We are particularly grateful for the flexibility and understanding that allowed us to adapt the project as participants’ needs became clearer.

We would also like to thank everyone who joined us over the three years.

Whether you attended one walk, received individual support or became a regular member of our walking community, you helped make this project what it became.

Thank you for the conversations.
The encouragement.
The kindness.
The laughter.
And the friendships.

Three years of walking. Countless conversations. Lasting connections.

The funding may have ended, but the friendships, confidence and positive changes it helped create can continue.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

Chris Tuck
Founder & CEO, Survivors Of aBuse (SoB)
In collaboration with West Wickham Health & Fitness

There is love, life and laughter after abuse. Empowering futures.