Let's Get Scotland Walking: NWS, Appendix 1: Suporting Material

Section 3 Some Case Study Examples Wealthier and Fairer

1. Social Return on Investment: Health Walks shown to make people fitter, healthier and happier - Paths for All (2013)

SROI research findings show that for every £1 spent on Health Walks in Glasgow £8 of social benefits were generated for society.

This research shows that group Health Walks deliver valuable benefits for the people of Scotland. The social return on investment (SROI) analysis looked at the impact of the Health Walk programme and assigned a monetary value to the changes it created. The findings are compelling, not only proving that investment in the programme is sound, but also giving a rich picture of the multiple social benefits experienced by walkers and volunteers. Health Walks deliver an array of social benefits including making people fitter, healthier and improving their mental health. This in turn makes cost savings to the NHS and Glasgow City Council, such as reduced spend on care and prescriptions.

Two further SROI studies in Stirling and the Scottish Borders show that for every £1 invested in Health Walks £9 and £8 worth of benefits were delivered respectively. With all three independent studies obtaining similar findings, there is a strong case for investment in Health Walk programmes across both rural and urban settings in Scotland.

2. Social Return on Investment (SROI) - Analysis of the Greenlink (2009)

The Greenlink is a 7km cycle path creating a direct route from Strathclyde Country Park to Motherwell Town Centre. The Greenlink project is the result of a three-year partnership between North Lanarkshire Council, CSFT, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, Scottish Natural Heritage, Fresh Futures and Forestry Commission Scotland. The project is managed by CSFT on behalf of the Greenlink Steering Group. The first year of the project saw the creation of the lit tarmac cycle way and some adjourning walkways were upgraded. There is ongoing programme of woodland management, conservation and community events and activity taking place as part of the project, developed in partnership with the communities along the route; Daisy Park, Forgewood and Orbiston. This gives a social return of £7.63 for every £1 invested.

3. Helix Project

The Helix is a brand new public outdoor space between Falkirk and Grangemouth operated by Falkirk Community Trust. The Helix partnership project, which has seen significant community involvement, plays a key part in the creation of a physical living landmark, and has captured the imagination of the Falkirk and Grangemouth communities changing their outlook through regeneration. The Helix project is transforming 350 hectares of land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a vibrant new parkland with visitor attraction. The Kelpies, 30-metre-tall horse head sculptures inspired by the role of the heavy horse in the history of the canals, form the centrepiece of the project.

This £43 million development consists of four different zones within 350 hectares of green space and 27km of family friendly cycling and walking paths. These will link into 400km of wider central Scotland path networks including Sustrans routes, the new John Muir Trail and the Bespoke Mountain Bike Trails, which are the first of their kind in Falkirk. Another key Helix development is the installation of an enhanced canal hub with a visitor's centre as part of a new canal link into the Forth & Clyde Canal. The 1km extension will return the canal back to its birthplace in Grangemouth some 250 years after it was built, and is the final piece in the Millennium Link project.

The Helix is being driven by a partnership of Falkirk Council and Scottish Canals. The project has been awarded £25 million by the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks programme.