2025 Meals on Wheels NSW Innovation Awards
Bega Valley Meals on Wheels' Walking Group program
Project Overview
The Walking Group Initiative was established by Bega Valley Meals on Wheels to promote safe physical activity, reduce social isolation, and encourage community connection among clients.
Objectives
· Provide a safe and supportive environment for clients to stay physically active.
· Reduce loneliness and isolation through regular group interaction.
· Build community connections and friendships between clients and volunteers.
· Enhance overall health, wellbeing, and confidence of participants.
Activities
· A weekly walking group meets every Tuesday at 10am.
· Clients walk together at their own pace, supported by a volunteer.
· After each walk, participants gather for a cuppa and a chat, creating a social and supportive environment.
Outcomes
· Increased participation as the group continues to grow each week.
· Improved physical activity, mobility, and confidence among clients.
· Stronger social networks and reduced isolation.
· Positive feedback from both clients and volunteers about the benefits of the program.
Community Impact
The Walking Group has demonstrated how a simple, low-cost initiative can create meaningful change. It highlights the role of Meals on Wheels as more than a meal delivery service, providing holistic community support that fosters health, independence, and wellbeing.
What was the challenge or need that led to this innovation?
Many of our clients face two significant challenges: the risk of social isolation and the difficulty of maintaining regular physical activity. Older people and those living with disability often feel unsafe walking alone, which reduces their confidence and limits their opportunities to exercise. At the same time, a lack of regular social contact can lead to loneliness, which has a major impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Through ongoing conversations with clients and volunteers, it became clear that there was a need for an activity that was safe, inclusive, and social. The Walking Group Initiative was developed in response to this gap. By creating an opportunity for clients to walk together, supported by a volunteer, the program addresses both safety and isolation concerns. The addition of a cuppa and chat afterwards ensures the initiative is as much about social connection as it is about physical activity.
This innovation arose from listening to our community and responding with a simple but effective solution that enhances health, wellbeing, and confidence.
How has this innovation reinvigorated your service or an aspect of your service?
The Walking Group Initiative has reinvigorated Bega Valley Meals on Wheels by expanding our service beyond meal delivery and providing a new, meaningful way to engage clients. By introducing a regular social activity, we have increased our Social Support Group (SSG) outputs, ensuring that clients receive not only nutritional support but also opportunities for connection, inclusion, and improved wellbeing.
Each weekly walking session generates measurable SSG outputs through both the group activity and the social interaction that follows over a cuppa and chat. As participation has grown, so too have our outputs, strengthening our ability to meet service targets while offering clients something they genuinely value.
This initiative has also brought new energy to our organisation. Volunteers enjoy a fresh, rewarding way to connect with clients, while clients see Meals on Wheels as more than just a meal provider but as a hub for health, social support, and community connection. The increase in SSG outputs reflects the broader impact of this program: a simple innovation that has enhanced our service model, revitalised engagement, and delivered tangible benefits to both clients and the organisation.
The Walking Group Initiative has been a remarkable success, demonstrating how a simple, community-driven idea can create meaningful change. Beyond increasing Social Support outputs and encouraging physical activity, the program has had a profound impact on client wellbeing, confidence, and sense of belonging.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Many clients report looking forward to the weekly walks as a highlight of their week, enjoying both the physical activity and the social interaction. Volunteers have also shared that the initiative provides a rewarding and engaging way to contribute to the community, strengthening relationships with clients and each other.
The growth of the group highlights its sustainability and appeal, showing that small innovations can make a big difference. It also illustrates the flexibility and responsiveness of Bega Valley Meals on Wheels in meeting evolving client needs. This initiative has set a new standard for holistic support within our service, combining health, social connection, and community engagement in a way that is both practical and impactful.