BackNew heritage walks in Blackburn
Local residents and theatre enthusiasts will be teaming up with National charity Living Streets to take part in a series of organised walks as part of the charities Fitter for Walking project.
Living Streets launched the Fitter for Walking project in Blackburn in 2008 to help residents create streets they can be proud of. With funding from the Big Lottery Fund and in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council the heritage walks will take in the area in and around Ewood and Livesey and will kick start a series of walks led by local people themselves in the coming months.
On the 7th May Bernard Kennedy, Fitter for Walking Coordinator, will be leading the walks along with the Blackburn Civic Society who will be providing some of the background information to the theatres history. Bernard has been part of the team of volunteers who have researched into the lives of the theatres founders and discovered that they all lived within a square mile of the theatre. The walks will encourage local residents to get to learn more about their local area as well as encouraging the community to come together and using the local spaces for walking.
Residents are welcome to join in on the first walk on the 7th May
Meet at: Outside Thwaites Empire Theatre Bolton Rd Blackburn.BB2 4HT at 10.30 am
Everyone who attends the first walk will receive their own copy of the map to repeat the walk and share with friends. Bernard added “Each time I lead this walk, people add a new story and insight into the history of the building and its past. It has provided me with lots of stories to share with all those who attend”
Fitter for Walking is part of a group of projects that will be helping 2 million people nationwide become more physically active, by regularly walking or cycling as part of their daily lives. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Wellbeing Programme. Blackburn with Darwen Council and Capita are official partners in the Fitter for Walking project – a fantastic move that shows they are eager to work together with Living Streets and residents to improve their streets and encourage people to get walking locally. This partnership approach is vital in making sure that the project can make a real difference over the four year duration.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said:
“We are really excited to be leading some taster walks in Blackburn and hope that we can encourage all those involved to continue walking more as a result of the walking programme. There are so many benefits to walking, not just to make the roads less congested and polluted, but to develop more of a community as you get to know your local area better.
“We are told all the time that we need to be more active, but it doesn’t have to be hard - making small changes to your everyday routine, such as having a brisk walk can work wonders in transforming your health.”
Local residents can get in touch with Bernard by calling 0759 048494 or emailing bernard.kennedyl@livingstreets.org.uk
ENDS
If you would like to find out more information, to send a photographer to the walk or to interview Bernard Kennedy about his work in the area, please contact Anna Powell, Press Officer at anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk, tel: 020 7377 4914.
Notes to editors
Living Streets’ Fitter for Walking campaign is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a Consortium of the leading walking cycling and health organisations and funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Wellbeing Programme. The Programme provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.
The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling, CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers’ Association, Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable two million people nationwide to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we campaign to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 30/04/2010
