Funded: March 2023
Blue Light Card Foundation has provided funding to support a new website and further development of the walking groups
Sectors supported: Blue Light community
Walk & Talk 999 is an early intervention mental health initiative for emergency services, NHS, and Armed Forces (serving or retired) first launched in 2021 due to the pandemic. Run by a committee of 6 operational fire staff with a combined service of 117 years, their own experiences with mental health allow them to empathise with others and help build the programme with dedicated walk leaders.
The walking group started as a place for men to walk and talk about mental health but now also includes inclusive walks. Walks are carried out in various locations throughout the UK on a weekly basis. They offer a safe and supportive environment to chat freely and check in with yourself and assist with breaking the sigma around mental health by talking in an openly safe space.
The Blue Light Card Foundation is supporting Walk & Talk 999 by granting funds to allow the group to develop further and include creation of a website.
“Walk & Talk 999 are incredibly grateful for the grant that the Blue Light Card Foundation is gifting us. This grant will be paid forward beyond measure by allowing us to create a website to not only centralise the information around our nationwide walks, but to allow us to grow further across the country and hopefully worldwide. With our website and new promotional material, we will feel more professional as we strive to bring the elevation we need to support more men on their mental health journey. Thank you for giving us such a massive step up in our plans.”
Walk & Talk 999 Instagram
Walk & Talk 999 Twitter
Current walk days and locations are below. Please reach out to the team on their socials for more information.
TUESDAYS
Beckenham (SE London)
Hampstead Heath (NW London)
Crawley
Portsmouth
Durham
Sheffield
WEDNESDAYS
Richmond Park (SW London)
THURSDAYS
Bexleyheath (SE London)
Hastings
SATURDAYS
Herne Bay
Chair of Trustees – Steve Denny
Blue Light Card Foundation, Charnwood Edge, Syston Road, Cossington, Leicester LE7 4UZ
The Blue Light Card Foundation is a registered charity within England and Wales. Charity No. 1 1 9 8 4 9 2