Pennine Mencap to host Walk or Wheel Club as part of Greater Manchester Walking Festival 

More than 350 walking and wheeling events are taking place across the city region as the hugely popular GM Walking Festival returns for 2024

Oldham residents with learning disabilities and autism are getting extra support to walk and wheel more this National Walking Month through the Greater Manchester Walking Festival. 

More than 350 walking and wheeling events are taking place across the city region as the hugely popular GM Walking Festival returns for 2024. 

Pennine Mencap are running their Walk or Wheel Club on Monday, May 6 at 1pm from their Oldham base at Rhodes Bank Chambers. 

The charity operates a diverse and full calendar of events, activities, services and sessions designed to engage individuals of all different ability levels and interests. 

One in four people in England live with a long-term health condition, and are twice as likely to be inactive, completing less than 30 minutes/week of physical activity.  

This is despite overwhelming evidence that being active outweighs any risks for people with long-term health conditions and can help manage many conditions.  

The GM Walking Festival 2024 takes place throughout May, to align with National Walking Month, and is a celebration of walking and wheeling throughout Greater Manchester.  

Community groups, walking groups, charities, and many others are putting on free, group-led walks throughout the month alongside Greater Manchester Walking.  

With hundreds of different group walks to choose from, you can search on the GM Walking Festival website for walks based on distance or grading, proximity to public transport, accessibility by wheelchair, buggy-friendly walks, and routes close to cafes and pubs.  

Louise Robbins, Strategic Lead GM Walking, said: “This May we’re encouraging everyone to get walking and wheeling and explore their local area, discovering new places to walk, socialise, and have fun by moving more regularly.  

“GM Walking supports everyone to walk regularly in their neighbourhoods and we hope to inspire everyone to do a little bit more by taking part in this year’s festivities   

“We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful region - enjoying the great outdoors is just one of many reasons people may wish to get walking this month.  

“There’s also the amazing mental wellbeing benefits; better sleep, relieving stress, and building new friendships and connections through group walks.” 

Everyone is invited to the GM Walking Festival and you can discover the full programme of free, group-led walking and wheeling events on the GM Walking website here

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