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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The profile, motivations and challenges for volunteers on health walks schemes based in primary care | | Author(s) | Andrew Ashley, Maggie Steel, Helen Bartlett |
| Journal title | Health Education Journal, vol 60, no 3, 2001 |
| Pages | pp 265-274 |
| Keywords | Walking ; Exercise ; General practice ; Voluntary workers ; Attitude ; Projects ; Social surveys ; Wokingham. |
| Annotation | Volunteers are often needed for ensuring the viability of community-based health projects. This paper describes their important role in an exercise promotion scheme 'Health Walks' based in Woodley, Wokingham District, for which they lead community walks. The study aims to determine why people volunteer as walk leaders, what challenges they face, why they are committed to the scheme, and whether they fit a particular demographic profile. This information will be used for future schemes, to help understand and support their work. A questionnaire, prepaid response envelope and a covering letter was sent to all 29 volunteers who led walks; 22 people (76%) completed the survey. Similarities were found between the traditional volunteer demographic profile and those of the walk leaders, who were middle-aged and previously worked in managerial or professional occupations. However, leaders' motivations were more related to self-interest or enjoyment than altruism. In order to maintain volunteers' commitment to the scheme, future walking programmes must support their efforts, by showing appreciation and by giving them opportunities for ownership. (KJ/RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-011004202 A |
| Classmark | HSA: CEA: L5: QV: DP: 3E: 3F: 8BEK |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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