# Starting your own group > Walking is a simple, low-cost way to build a group: it needs no special equipment and tends to help people become more active. Plan ahead, tell people you know, hold a first meeting to agree the basics, and share the leading. - Type: Guide - Topic: Social & Family › Groups & Community - Reviewed by: Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, Podiatrist (2026-10-21) - URL: https://twikka.com/learn/starting-your-own-group - Updated: 2026-10-21 - **Walking is a good place to start:** it is inexpensive, safe and needs no special equipment [1]. - **Group walking tends to increase activity,** and trained volunteer leaders do about as well as professionals [2]. - **Plan, tell people, then meet:** a first meeting is where you agree the day, place, time and distance [1]. - **Keep it friendly:** a close, welcoming group is linked with people turning up consistently [3]. ## How do you start an activity group around a shared interest? Walking is a strong choice for a beginner-friendly group: plan ahead, tell people, then hold a first meeting. It is inexpensive and safe, and being part of a club can help members stay motivated [1]. Promoting walking in groups tends to increase physical activity, and a well-trained volunteer can lead as effectively as a professional [2]. - **Tell people.** Start with family, friends and neighbours. Then try social media, ask your employer about a group at work, and advertise through a religious organisation, community centre or neighbourhood bulletin. Put up posters [1]. - **Hold a first meeting.** Share ideas, set goals, and agree the day, place, time and how far you will walk [1]. Encourage members to take turns leading, so the group doesn't depend on one person [1]. - **Look for leader training.** Ask your local council or health service whether free volunteer walk-leader training is offered. One example covers finding and risk-assessing local walks, promoting a walk, staying motivated and linking with a network of volunteer leaders [4]. - **Keep it friendly.** Groups that feel close tend to have members who attend consistently, and leaders who help build that feeling may help people keep coming [3]. People are often reluctant to approach those they don't know, so making newcomers feel welcome may matter [5]. - **Expect numbers to dip.** Interest often fades over time, especially in longer programmes, so keep in touch with members who miss a session [5]. > **Try this:** This week, pick a day, time and place for a first walk. Tell three people you know and ask each to bring someone along. ## How do you start an informal exercise group? Keep it simple: choose an easy, low-cost activity such as walking, spread the word locally and agree when and where to meet. Walking suits almost everyone, needs no specialist equipment, and is a good way to meet people in your neighbourhood [4]. - **Choose the place with care.** Pick somewhere well-lit with pavements, such as your neighbourhood or a local school track. Always meet at the same time and place; you can change the route to keep it fun [1]. - **Have a backup for bad weather.** Walking indoors, for example in a shopping centre, keeps the group going [1]. - **Keep sessions short and steady.** Walking groups are typically short walks of under an hour, run by trained volunteers, and the social side may help people keep going [6]. One local health walk is described as very steady on good terrain, with hills taken slowly and as many breaks as needed [7]. That lets people at different fitness levels join in. - **Ask about limits.** Invite members to say if they have any injuries or limits, and to stop and rest if something hurts. - **Share the leading** from the start [1]. How well informal groups work in everyday life isn't clear yet, so start small and adjust as you learn what suits your members [2]. ## When to check with a health professional If you're starting exercise after a long break, it's always a good idea to see your doctor first. For an injury or a health condition, see a health professional, such as your doctor or a physio. If your group includes people with long-term conditions or disability, involving a health professional and training your leaders can ease safety concerns [8]. Problems are rare in walking groups [6]. Call your local emergency number for chest pain or pressure (or pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw or back, especially with sweating or feeling sick), severe breathlessness, fainting or collapse, signs of a stroke, a serious injury, or someone who isn't safe. For anything else, such as a sore muscle or joint, ease off, and get advice from a doctor or other health professional if it persists or gets worse. ## Quick answers ### Do I need insurance to lead a group? It depends on where you live and how you run the group, so check before you lead. Ask your local council or health service whether they offer volunteer walk-leader training; some training covers arranging insurance cover to lead a group. If you aren't sure whether you need cover, ask before your first walk. ### How often should a beginner group meet? No best schedule has been shown for beginner groups. Choose a day and time that most of your members can manage, and keep it the same so people know what to expect. Once you see who comes and how they feel afterwards, you can adjust how often or how long you meet. ## Sources 1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Activity 2: How to Organize a Walking Club. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/AppxPart2-Activity2-508.pdf 2. Kassavou A, Turner A, French DP (2013). Do interventions to promote walking in groups increase physical activity? A meta-analysis. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-18 3. Izumi BT et al. (2015). Leader Behaviors, Group Cohesion, and Participation in a Walking Group Program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.019 4. Plymouth City Council. Walking groups. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/walking-groups 5. Shiyab W, Halcomb E, Rolls K, Ferguson C (2023). The Impact of Social Media Interventions on Weight Reduction and Physical Activity Improvement Among Healthy Adults: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/38429 6. Hanson S, Jones A (2015). Is there evidence that walking groups have health benefits? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4453623/ 7. Derbyshire Dales District Council. Wirksworth walks. https://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/leisure/sports-and-health-activities/health-walks/wirksworth-walks 8. Best KL, Bourassa S, Sweet SN, Routhier F (2023). Expert consensus for a digital peer-led approach to improving physical activity among individuals with spinal cord injury who use manual wheelchairs. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9897743/ --- Source: Twikka (https://twikka.com/learn/starting-your-own-group). General information about physical activity, not medical advice.