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UK charity Hospitality Action has revealed its annual initiative, Walk for Wellbeing, has expanded into three further UK cities to mark its fifth and biggest year to date.
The charity has confirmed Oxford, Cardiff and Liverpool will join the fundraising campaign this year, taking the number of host cities to eight.
From modest beginnings in 2020 with a small group of individuals strolling together in London, Walk for Wellbeing has since evolved into a national movement. The event unites hundreds of hospitality companies and thousands of walkers from across the nation each taking proactive steps to improve their own wellbeing and support that of their colleagues.
Hospitality Action said everyone in the hospitality industry and beyond is invited to put on their walking shoes and come together to promote 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.
Eight hosted 20km walks will take place in key cities across the UK on Sunday 13 October in London, Oxford, Bath/Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
Those who can’t make that date can ‘Walk It Your Way’ at a location of their choice any time between World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October and Sunday 27 October.
It added the campaign comes as the leading cause of anxiety in the UK is financial worry and debt. Since the start of 2024, Hospitality Action has experienced record high calls to their helplines and grant applications, with the majority citing debt as the biggest trigger of anxiety leading to feelings of hopelessness and mental health issues.
Craig Prentice, creator of Walk for Wellbeing, said: “There is an essential need for hospitality businesses industry wide to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their employees – our industry’s continued success relies on it. Walk for Wellbeing is a grassroots movement that promotes self-care as well as encouraging good employment practises, and it’s rapidly gaining national prominence.
“Community is at the core of hospitality; Walk for Wellbeing connects people locally, raises awareness, educates, unites, nurtures and empowers our community. We invite everyone to join this movement across the UK.”
