Booting out lazy lunches

06/09/2007

Northumbrian Water has taken the healthy step and introduced a series of walks to entice employees out into the fresh air to stretch their legs during lunch-time. 

The six walks, scenic routes around Durham and Washington, are between three quarters of a mile and two miles long and will take walkers between 10 minutes and half an hour to complete.

Some of the routes wind through wetlands and woodlands and the walks, which will each notch up between 1800 and 4200 steps towards fitness, will energise or relax workers during the course of a busy day.

The demands of work and family life can often mean that there is little or no time for exercise.  Lunch breaks are the ideal time for employees to take the opportunity to enjoy a walk and enhance their general well-being.

Seventy per cent of adults in the UK are inactive and this is a major contributor to ill-health resulting in a £8.2 billion bill for the economy every year.

Sharon Ravenhall, Northumbrian Water’s Human Resources Operations Manager, said: “These walks will hopefully help our staff to easily integrate regular exercise into their lives as part of a daily routine.  Our people are the most important resource Northumbrian Water has so anything we can do to encourage them to improve and maintain their well-being is a positive step.  Obviously we also encourage staff to ensure they drink enough tap water while walking to keep hydrated!”

Benefits of regular exercise are varied and can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression and also improve mobility and general well-being.

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For further information contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.