Take part in local activities and improve your wellbeing with the Winter Wellbeing Challenge!
Last updated: 7/2/2024
Residents across the Borough are invited to take part in the Rushcliffe Winter Wellbeing Challenge and take part in fun activities encouraging people to step outside, embrace the season, and elevate wellbeing through local activities.
The Challenge runs until March 31 and encourages those who may be feeling down or isolated during the colder months to get up and go outside to boost their wellbeing by engaging in a variety of activities delivered by local organisations and voluntary groups.
Reflecting on the current cost of living, all activities listed are either free or at a small cost to cover food and refreshments.
Participants can collect a sticker on completion of each of the nine activities to win a specially designed tote bag. Sticker books are provided at the activities unless stated otherwise.
The activities include:
Creative Nature Walks with Farm Eco
Date and time: Friday January 26 and Friday February 9 from 10am to midday
Location: FarmEco Community Farm, Off Lodge Lane, Screveton, NG13 8JL
Join the Farm Eco team for a meander around the magical Labyrinth, a gentle stroll along the Nature Trail and the farm's Environmental projects. Afterwards share a warm drink and snack together.
Pizza, Chill and Chat
Date and time: Every Friday from midday to 5pm
Location: The Café on the Corner, St Paul’s Church, Boundary Road NG2 7DB
Grab a slice of pizza, a glass of squash and a sweet treat for just £1. Perfect for a snack or an after-school treat!
10,000 Steps!
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Walk 10,000 steps, three times a week to receive a sticker.
Walk, stroll, or run your way to a healthier you!
Find local walking routes in the Rushcliffe Big Green Book.
Parkrun
Parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly weekly event. Please register before you first come along via Parkrun - register. You only ever need to register once and don't forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode to receive your time.
Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!
Ramblers Wellbeing Walks
Every Thursday at 10.30am meeting at Grange Hall in Radcliffe-on-Trent
Every Thursday at 1.30pm meeting at Meadow Park entrance in East Leake
Rushcliffe Move & Mingle Wellbeing Walks offer free, safe and sociable walks with trained leaders to improve your health and wellbeing.
Whether you used to enjoy walking but have lost your fitness or want to get started to improve your wellness, we’re all in it together.
The Crafty Allotmenteers
Date and time: Every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm
Location: Ruddington Parish Council, St Peter’s Rooms, Church St, Ruddington NG11 6HD
Come along to Ruddington Parish Council to get crafty! Bring along craft supplies and spend time with others in a warm friendly environment whilst making something handmade and beautiful!
Enjoy tea and biscuits whilst you're making something special!
Friends of Bingham Linear Park
Date and time: Sunday February 18 and Sunday March 17 at 10am
Location: Bingham Linear Park, Tithby Road, Bingham, NG13 8GP
Bingham Linear Park is a Local Nature Reserve running along the line of an abandoned railway. The Friends of group maintain and enhance the biodiversity of the local nature reserve and look after it for the users of the park.
In the period October to March the group carries out conservation work party activities such as scrub clearance, tree thinning, path clearing etc.
WholeHealth Nordic Style Sauna and Dip
Date and Time: First and second Wednesday of the month from 10am to 10.30am
Location: WholeHealth Open Water Swim Village & Sauna, Colwick Country Park, End of Racecourse Rd, Nottingham NG2 4DW
WholeHealth runs safe, supported open water swim sessions for our members at the City Council-owned Colwick Lake in Nottingham.
The Mindfulness Dips are for swimmers who want a quieter dip for relaxation and meditation in the company of others, with the WholeHealth team to take care of your safety in the water while you enjoy the Lake however you want to. This new swim opportunity is designed for people who wish to immerse and enjoy the lake for peace and restoration, rather than swimming laps.
Trent Bridge Community Trust Winter Wellness
Date and time: Every Tuesday from 1pm to 1.30pm
Location: Cotgrave Community Garden, Cotgrave Welfare Scheme, Woodview, Cotgrave NG12 3PJ
Weekly activities to promote improvements in your physical and mental wellbeing, delivered in a peaceful setting.
Offering a wide range of activities such as planting new seeds using different methods, making bird boxes, picking vegetables and making broths and soups, weeding the garden, painting different flowers.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “With the colder and shorter days in winter, it can be tempting to spend our time indoors, but we can feel so much better for getting outside and meeting other people.
“The Winter Wellbeing Challenge is a fantastic initiative for anyone to get involved in, try something new, socialise and boost their wellbeing.
“It highlights a variety of activities on our doorstep including free walks, meet ups, conservation work, arts and crafts and more!
“It was great to visit the Pizza, Chill and Chat session at The Café on the Corner on Boundary Road and see how it’s helping to bring people together throughout winter and reduce social isolation.
“A big thank you to our officers, the Rushcliffe Primary Care Network and all the partners involved in delivering the challenge!”
Social Prescribing Team Leader Morgan Sharpe added: “We can all experience winter blues this time of year and many people can experience social isolation and low moods so we came up with the Challenge to help boost people’s mental health and wellbeing.
“Evidence suggests socialising, exercise, fresh air and vitamin D intake are all protective factors that support positive health outcomes and wellbeing.
“With that in mind we worked with Rushcliffe Borough Council and our partners across the Borough to develop the nine activities for the first edition of the Winter Wellbeing Challenge which anyone can take part in!”
The challenge is flexible and participants can complete the activities at their own paces ahead of the end of March deadline.