Nationwide initiative Walk for Wellbeing has raised more than £500,000 for the UK charity Hospitality Action since its launch in 2020.
This year’s event, held in October, saw more than 1,400 people from across the hospitality industry take part – the highest number to date – raising £165,000. Funds from the initiative have helped households in the sector clear priority debts, prevent homelessness and access mental health support.
The walk is organised by hospitality recruitment partner mum in partnership with Caterer.com, Imperial London Hotels and Sona. Cornwall, Edinburgh, Newcastle and York joined the movement for the first time this year, bringing the total number of host cities to 12, alongside Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
Participants completed 20km hosted walks across the UK, from city streets to parks and waterfronts. Hundreds more took part independently between World Mental Health Day on 10 October and 26 October through the ‘Walk It Your Way’ initiative.
Walk for Wellbeing creator and mum founder and director Craig Prentice said: “Walk for Wellbeing began six years ago to bring people together, open up conversations around mental health, and raise funds for Hospitality Action. It has grown from a few participants to the biggest hospitality walk in the UK, involving thousands of people and raising £500,000 in that time. When we come together around a cause, we can achieve the remarkable.”
Walk for Wellbeing chair and co-founder Sean Wheeler, also a people and culture consultant, adde §d: “I am over the moon that we have reached this amazing milestone from where we started in 2020. I want to thank all the city hosts and volunteers who have worked so hard to make the walk happen every year in their locations. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Hospitality Action chief executive Mark Lewis said: “Walk for Wellbeing is about so much more than walking – it’s about the hospitality community coming together to look after its own. The funds raised have a real, lasting impact, helping prevent homelessness, ease financial pressures and support mental health for colleagues and their families. Since 2020, Hospitality Action has awarded over £5m in grants, and initiatives like Walk for Wellbeing play a vital role in sustaining this support and ensuring it reaches those who need it most.”
