Croydon Residents Launch Neighbourhood Walking Groups Through Active Scheme

Twelve new walking groups have formed in Croydon since May 2026, with 85 residents now meeting weekly across four wards.

The increase follows Croydon Council's decision in April to cut indoor leisure centre subsidies by 18 percent, pushing more people toward free outdoor options near their homes.

Groups already meet at Wandle Park in Waddon every Monday at 8am and at the entrance to South Norwood Country Park on Thursdays at 6pm.

Pick a route and set the rules

Start with a flat 3km loop that begins and ends at the same street corner so newcomers can join without maps. In Broad Green, one group uses the path beside the River Wandle from Mitcham Road to the tram stop at Ampere Way. Another in Shirley walks the perimeter of Addiscombe Recreation Ground twice before returning along Addiscombe Road. Keep the pace at 5km per hour and cap the session at 45 minutes so participants can fit it before work shifts at the Whitgift Centre or after school runs at St Mary's Catholic Junior School.

Collect contact details on a shared phone list rather than social media to avoid data fees. Charge nothing for the first four weeks, then ask each walker for a £2 contribution toward a basic first-aid kit bought from the pharmacy on London Road.

Register and keep it going

Submit the group name and meeting point to the Active Croydon programme by email before the end of July. The scheme supplies reflective vests and records attendance for its annual report due in December 2026. Public Health England figures show that 150 minutes of brisk walking each week cuts cardiovascular risk by 30 percent, a target the council aims to help 4,000 residents reach by March 2027. After the first month, rotate the leader role so no single person carries the planning load. Post the next three dates on the noticeboard inside Croydon Clocktower library so the group stays visible to passers-by on Katharine Street.