Let's get Scotland Walking - The National Walking Strategy

4. Cross-Sector Delivery

We know that the biggest health and economic gains come from getting inactive people to become active, and the easiest way for most will be increased walking. Walking should be as pleasant, safe and convenient as possible. Improving conditions for walking can bring a range of benefits to everyday lives; to health, safety, access to services and social contact, including a sense of community. People are more likely to remain healthy if we can support the assets they and their community possess.

There is no simple solution to changing a culture of inactivity. The challenge is to achieve a combined and sustained effort by ensuring support is provided across a range of policy areas at national, regional and local levels. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: Walking - The Cross-Policy Links

Realising our vision relies on a variety of delivery partners including: Scottish Government and its agencies, Regional Transport Partnerships, Safety Partnerships, local authorities (transport, urban and land use planners and those in development management, health improvement, education and town centre renewal, sports development and access), Health and social care sector, national and local politicians, third sector organisations, private developers, employers, business, estate and greenspace managers, community groups and trusts, grant funding bodies, those involved in carbon reduction and sustainability planning including those responsible for workplace travel, carbon reduction and sustainability plans. Community Planning Partnerships have a particularly important role to play in joining up the planning and delivery of services to support delivery of this strategy.

Evidence suggests that interventions tailored to individual people's needs and aimed at the most sedentary groups can encourage people to walk more. Community-wide activities should include local infrastructure improvements and community involvement in planning. Recommended population level activities include policies to support change in health-related behaviours and should be consistent with community and individual approaches.