High Life Highland is caring for the carers in Badenoch and Strathspey
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High Life Highland is now working with a charity that supports carers, with the intention of helping them to improve their own health and wellbeing.
Over a million people in Scotland care for someone else and in 2018 it was estimated that in the Highlands there were around 32,000 people providing unpaid care.
HLH’s Countryside Rangers are now working with Highland charity Connecting Carers to provide a series of short walks for carers across the region.
Doctor Linda Birnie, training officer with the charity said: “Improving our connection with nature brings a whole host of health and wellbeing benefits.
“These are involved in reducing stress, improving sleep and boosting the carers’ own immune systems, to name just a few.
“Many more people have started an unpaid caring role during the Covid pandemic, juggling caring responsibilities whilst still holding down a job.
“Most significantly, eight out of 10 carers say their health is worse because of their caring responsibilities.
“We are delighted to have been enabled by the Carer Respite Support and Development Fund run by the Carers Trust, so these walks can be provided in locations across the Highland region.”
Connecting Carers is a charity whose aim is to support unpaid carers throughout the Highlands to access the help, information and support they need to enable them, and the people they care for, to have a better everyday life.
Future walks include several of interest to people in Badenoch and Strathspey. These are:
• Loch Morlich Beach on Tuesday, April 26 from 1pm – 2pm: an easy circular walk through some pinewood and along the golden beach of Loch Morlich.
• Riverside Walk, Aviemore on Tuesday, May 10 from 1.30pm – 2.30pm: a circular easy walk with lovely views of the River Spey when the birds will be in full spring song.
On May 19th there is also a special outing to the Highland capital’s Botanic Gardens.
From 11am until 12.30pm carers taking some time out will be treated to a ‘tree-mendous’ walk for all those who appreciated the floral things in life.
Walkers will gather at the entrance for a wee tour with the High Life Highland Ranger around the Ness Islands, looking at some of the amazing trees specimens to be found there.
Booking for the walks is essential.
For further information and to book contact Linda Birnie by email at: events@connectingcarers.org.uk
