On Friday 7th February 2020, a diverse group of nearly 60 stakeholders joined the ‘Get Ireland Walking - Stakeholder Forum on All Purpose Walking in Ireland - Working Towards the Future’ event at TU Dublin.
The day-long workshop had three strategic objectives:
1. To better connect the ecosystem seeking to encourage more walking in Ireland, whilst drawing out the supports and infrastructure needed to develop it.
2. To co-develop recommendations for a National Walking Strategy.
3. To agree a high-level action plan going forward to create a connection with Walk21 and the bid process.
In the lead up to the workshop, Connect the Dots circulated a survey to participants that asked them to highlight their specific interests and goals with respect to the workshop, the National Walking Strategy, and Walk21’s bid process. Participants were invited to indicate their preference for working on one of the seven themes which could inform a National Walking Strategy for Ireland and help steer discussions on the day.
Based on survey responses, participants were organised into eight tables (according to their stated thematic preference). Over the course of a number of guided sessions, each table group was tasked with completing specially designed Connect the Dots group and individual worksheets.
With 3.1 million people now regularly walking in Ireland, we now have a great opportunity to support this shift behaviour change; working across multiple sectors and government departments and programmes to achieve this.
You can read the findings and the full report here.