Together with Ramblers Scotland, Living Streets Scotland, and the National Walking Strategy Delivery Forum, Paths for All have launched the Scottish Walking Awards.
Open from 4 February 2021 until 31 March 2021 the awards feature ten categories open for nominations from across Scotland and all sections of society, including projects supporting people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Winners will be selected by an expert judging panel in April and announced during May as part of National Walking Month.
Make a nomination online.
The Categories:
Public Sector Walking Champion
An individual or organisation within the public sector who has made an outstanding impact upon walking and/or wheeling for their areas or organisations.
This could for example be an entire council, specific teams or a division of Government, or alternatively specific councillors, MSPs, local authority employees or civil servants.
Community Walking Champion / Campaigner
An individual or organisation who has championed, or campaigned for, walking and/or wheeling in their community. This could for example be a community group or resource, a local project, or an individual volunteer or community campaigner.
Business Walking Champion
A private business or paid staff member who has successfully promoted walking and/or wheeling to employees, customers, suppliers or managers. The business could be anything from a large private sector business to a high street cafe.
Walking Research / Innovation
An award for excellence in research, technology or innovative practice that has promoted, highlighted or evidenced the benefits of walking and/or wheeling. Nominees could be entire universities, research groups, colleges and think tanks – or individuals or teams within.
Most Improved Walking Place
This category celebrates places that have been significantly important for walking and wheeling within the past two years. This could for example be a community path project or an improved street, park town centre or housing association area. Link to public transport. Places may have installed seating, toilets, signposts, artworks, lighting that have led to increased footfall and a better walking/wheeling environment.
Land Manager Walking Champion
An individual or organisation within the land management sector who has taken proactive steps to support, develop and welcome walking and/or wheeling on their land within the past two years. This could include anyone from sporting, forestry and agricultural landowners, to NGOs and communities who own or manage land.
Walking Champion in Education
Open to individuals or organisations working to create a culture of more walking and wheeling within the education sector. Nominees could be an entire nursery, primary or secondary school, college or university – or a team, staff member, volunteer or student within a university or college.
Healthcare Professional Walking Champion
Paid staff teams or individuals who are promoting walking within a healthcare environment. For example surgeries, hospitals or care homes supporting staff, patients and residents to walk and wheel.
Social Housing Association Walking Champion
A Housing Association, or staff member within, that has actively promoted walking and wheeling to its residents. For example, by providing good quality space to walk, through excellence in planning and place-making within housing complexes.
Media / Online Walking Champion
An organisation or individual with the media, online or social media world who has made a significant positive impact for walkers and walking / wheeling in the last two years. This could for example include newspapers, journalists, reporters, bloggers, vloggers and social media personalities who promote walking.
Nominations close at midnight on 31 March 2021.
For more information email: getscotlandwalking@pathsforall.org.uk
Eligibility
Anyone can submit an entry, including members of the public, volunteers or staff nominating their own organisations or scheme.
We’re particularly keen to receive a diverse and inclusive range of nominations – representing all sections of society, areas of Scotland and including wheeling* projects as well as walking.
All nominations should include a significant development or action since spring 2019.
*Wheeling refers to the use of wheelchairs or other mobility aids – not cycling.
Make your nomination here.
