As part of our Mental Health Awareness Week celebrations, the Boulevard and Hull outreach teams brought together staff and clients for a Community Wellbeing Walk and Positive Pickle Picnic, and it turned out to be much more than just a walk.

The whole event was co-produced with the people we support, from choosing the route and setting the pace to picking out picnic goodies. The group walked 4.66 miles of a 5.7-mile trail, but the real progress came in the form of benefits to well-being.

Here are just a few of the outcomes from the day:

• Clients felt empowered and uplifted
• Anxiety eased, and real conversations happened
• A small gift made a big emotional impact

Some of the clients gave the best feedback:

“I loved that, it was so nice to be outdoors. If we do any more walking trips, I’d love to come.”
“Can we take a lamb back to service, please? We’ll look after it!”

And this message, shared by a client at the end of the day, really captured all of it:

“I just wanted to say thank you for today. I really do like you all already, and I already feel so excited and nervous — but that’s okay! I’m grateful that you invited me… thank you for my positive pickle present. I came back and showed everyone. You won’t know how much this means to me!!”

Kirstie Akrill, Manager, summed it up beautifully:

“Completing the walk created a huge sense of pride. You could see the group relax and connect with every step, and that really supported reducing anxiety and boosting moods. Mental health support isn’t just about services; it’s about shared experiences and valuing every achievement and client contribution.”

This is a great example of how meaningful, inclusive activities can make a difference.