Celebrating Our New Walk Champions for Learning Disability Week

Explore Kent is proud to celebrate Learning Disability Week by shining a spotlight on an inspiring groups of adults from Thanet who have just completed their Walk Champion training. Delivered in partnership with Mencap and Our Active Community Thanet, this project supports adults with a learning disability, and their supporters, to build confidence, enjoy nature, and take the lead in their local outdoor spaces.

Learning to Lead: Training with Pied A Terre Adventures

Over recent months, the Walk Champions have been training with Pied A Terre Adventures, learning everything they need to safely lead community walks. Their sessions covered:

• Understanding local flora and fauna
• Building leadership and navigation skills
• Learning stories and facts about the Thanet coastline
• Practicing how to lead and back-mark a group

After several online sessions, the group came together in person to explore the King Charles III England Coast Path between Ramsgate and Broadstairs. Despite temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, their enthusiasm never dipped. Each participant took turns leading the group, sharing local knowledge and supporting one another along the route.

Assessment Day at Pegwell Bay

The final assessment took place along the peaceful stretch from Ramsgate towards Pegwell Bay. The group enjoyed birdwatching from the public hide and continued their search for the famous Highland cows (no luck this time, but the ponies made a welcome appearance).

After a long but rewarding 14km walk, the group returned to Ramsgate as Walk Champions!

The Next Steps

This is just the beginning for our amazing new Walk Champions. They will now be working with partners to deliver future walks within their community, encouraging more adults with a learning disability to feel confident, connected and happy in the outdoors.

As we celebrate Learning Disability Week, we want to recognise the achievements of these brilliant Walk Champions. They’ve shown what’s possible when people are supported to build skills, confidence and independence in the outdoors.

This project continues to grow, and we can’t wait to share more updates as our Walk Champions begin leading walks and inspiring others in their community.