Tommy Clarke wins Paths for All Volunteer Award!
5th November 2020
OUT on Sundays Co-founder and longstanding LEAP Sports volunteer, Tommy Clarke, wins the Paths for All Health Walk Volunteer of the Year!
"The Paths for All Volunteer Awards recognise those who inspire others to walk more, who care for our local paths and who encourage active travel. They are also an opportunity to share how volunteers have adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of leading Health Walks or maintaining local paths, many volunteers have dedicated their time and efforts towards supporting people in their communities during the Coronavirus pandemic."
OUT on Sundays is an intergenerational, free walking group, hosting a variety of walks aiming to improve wellbeing and foster community interaction. The walks, often led by Tommy, include historical walks around the city of Glasgow, as well as regular 'chum me' park walks, which were created to help tackle loneliness, depression, and to try and nurture wellbeing and help make friends.
Tommy said: "Looking after yourself has always been important, more so in 2020 when everyone’s mental and physical health have been pushed to the limit and tested. At times, when all other sports were prohibited, walking was the one thing people could embrace. It was wonderful, hearing how people were taking up walking again, some doing it regularly for the first time. Discovering more about their area, finally letting their inner child have adventures and wandering into parks and streets to find out it’s secrets, marvel at the architecture they hadn’t given time to study and learn a little more about its history.
With OUT on Sundays I was able to record my history walks, giving those who couldn’t get out or those who couldn’t get to the southside of the city a chance to see some of the outside world, to connect and interact, as one of the benefits of OOS, is the friendships and bonds that have been created.
Being nominated and winning the Paths for All award is a huge surprise but, it shows me just how much my little contribution has made, how far reached one small act can go and you never know just how much one walk can help someone, whether they are physically with you or not."
During lockdown and with the new government restrictions, Tommy had been hosting walks when possible and safe to do so, as well as sharing his solo history walks live on the OUT on Sundays Facebook page to keep members engaged.
Hugh Torrance, Executive Director at LEAP Sports, said: "It's fantastic to see hard working, long-term volunteers like Tommy being rewarded for their passion and dedication to the community. Initiatives like OUT on Sundays are so important to reach people in our community that regular sports clubs don't."
Congratulations Tommy!!
