The Benefits of Joining a Group

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The Benefits of Joining a Group

By Hilary Pullen

Published on December 10, 2024

6 min read

Find Your Tribe This Winter & Get Outside!

We recently posted an article about the proven health benefits of getting outside during winter. Despite the cold, rain, and low light levels, it’s important to get some essential exercise. However, it’s easy to understand why many people choose to stay indoors and watch TV instead. Motivation can be at an all time low!

How Can I Stay Motived This Winter?

Without motivation it can be hard to get yourself outside and active. So this year we want you to ‘find your tribe’ and create or join a group to help motivate you to Get Outside, whatever the weather.

If you haven’t got a ready made set of friends that will support you in getting outside this winter and your New Year’s Resolution is to get outside more and build healthy habits, then it’s time to start doing some local research on groups you can get signed up to! You can start by joining the Get Outside Facebook Group!

What are the benefits of joining a group

If you’re a bit shy and not sure if joing a group will be right for you, take a look through this list of benefits and see if you think any of them would really help with your goals for the coming year. Setting realistic achievable goals is a subject we have covered recently, joining a group could be the way to help your goals become a reality.

Sense of Belonging: Being part of a group brings you a sense of belonging and community, which can be very fulfilling.

Motivation and Accountability: Group members can motivate each other to stay committed and accountable to their fitness and activity goals.

Shared Goals: Working towards common goals with others can be more rewarding and encouraging.

Support System: Having a support system can help you overcome challenges and celebrate achievements together.

Social Interaction: Regular interaction with group members can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Fun and Enjoyment: Exercising with others can make the activity more enjoyable and fun. You may not even notice all the hard work!

Variety of Activities: Groups often offer a variety of activities, keeping your exercise routine interesting and diverse.

Friendly Competition: A bit of friendly competition can push you to perform better and achieve more.

Skill Sharing: Group members can share their knowledge and skills, helping each other learn and improve.

Guidance and Coaching: Many groups have experienced leaders or coaches who can provide valuable guidance and support.

Safety in Numbers: Exercising in a group can be safer, especially in remote or unfamiliar areas.

Increased Confidence: Being part of a group can boost your confidence, making you more likely to try new activities and push your limits.

Emotional Support: Group members can offer emotional support, helping you cope with stress and challenges.

Positive Environment: A positive and encouraging group environment can enhance your overall well-being and happiness.

Does this list of benefits give you a little more confidence to reach out to a group near you?

Joining a group for outdoor exercise not only helps you stay active but also provides a supportive, enjoyable, and enriching experience.

A List of Ideas for Local Activity Groups To Join

We’ve listed some of the most obvious ideas here but we’ve also found some really inspiring groups you may not of heard of. Groups that focus on activity and staying healthy but with a mission to improve their local surroundings and give back to their local community.

Local Running and Sports Clubs

There are sports clubs everywhere in the UK, including lots of running clubs to get you outside all year round. If you’ve never joined a sports club and you’re not sure what to expect most clubs will have a friendly club secretary that will help you out. They will be delighted to have a new member enquiry. A quick google for ‘my local running club’ is all that’s needed to find a phone number or website. Most local sports clubs are not free, look out for new member offers. Not all but many clubs offer discretionary prices or payment plans for people in receipt of state benefits.

Parkrun

Parkrun has become so well known as the most sociable and friendly running community. It is volunteer run with over 2000 groups worldwide. Every weekend like-minded people attempt a 5k run, there’s no winners or losers and there’s no time limit. Beginners are made very welcome and you’re sure to make some friends if you turn up regularly. If you’ve decided to try the NHS Coach to 5K then Parkrun is the logical next step. It’s free to join a Parkrun – another reason it’s so popular!

VISIT THE WEBSITE & FIND OUT MORE

The Ramblers

Image via The Ramblers

The Ramblers Association, simply known as the Ramblers, is a leading walking charity in Great Britain. Founded in 1935, their mission is to promote walking and protect walkers’ rights.

With around 100,000 members and a vast network of volunteers, they help maintain and safeguard the country’s extensive path network. The Ramblers work tirelessly to remove barriers to walking, ensuring everyone can enjoy the benefits of green spaces.

They also campaign to keep the British countryside accessible to all. Offering a variety of group walks and resources, they encourage people to explore the outdoors. The subscription fee is relatively small, and you can even pay monthly.

VISIT THE WEBSITE & FIND OUT MORE

GoodGym

Image via www.goodgym.org

GoodGym is a unique initiative that blends fitness with community service. Founded in 2009, it encourages people to run, walk, or cycle while completing practical tasks for community projects and isolated older people.

Participants can join group runs to help local organisations, undertake missions to assist older individuals with tasks they can no longer manage alone, or make social visits to reduce loneliness.

GoodGym operates in over 60 areas across the UK, promoting physical activity and social connection while making a positive impact on local communities. It’s free to join, but you can donate monthly if you wish.

VISIT THE WEBSITE & FIND OUT MORE

Green Gym

Image via GreenGym

Green Gym, run by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), offers free outdoor exercise sessions that focus on practical conservation activities. Participants engage in tasks such as planting trees, creating wildlife habitats, and managing green spaces. These sessions not only improve physical fitness but also enhance mental well-being through increased contact with nature and social interaction. Green Gyms are available across the UK and are designed to be inclusive, welcoming people of all fitness levels to contribute to environmental conservation while staying active. Green Gym is completely free to join.

VISIT THE WEBSITE & FIND OUT MORE

Hiking Groups & Guided Walks

Looking to join a hiking group? Facebook is a great place to start! There are plenty of unofficial hiking groups where you can find reputable groups in your area and ask questions. Look for groups with daily posts from members and check out the FAQ’s. A great way to get started is simply post an introduction to yourself and ask a question once you find a group in your area.

You can start by joining the Get Outside Community on Facebook.

For those new to hiking, consider joining hikes organized by qualified mountain leaders. These might not be free, but they’re an excellent starting point for novices.

As you gain confidence in your navigation skills and hiking ability, you can join free group hikes with other enthusiasts. Before committing, do your research: Google the event leaders’ names and seek advice and feedback from various groups. This way, you can ensure you’re making informed decisions.

Once you’ve found some regular hiking buddies, you can start arranging your own hikes. If you’re unsure where to begin, check out our hiking for beginners advice.

There are lots of unofficial hiking groups on Facebook that you can join to help you find a reputable group in your area. You can also find qualified mountain leaders that organise group hikes, these wont be free but can be a good starting point if you are a hiking novice.

Once you are feeling more confident in your navigation skills and hiking ability then joining up with other enthusiasts for free group hikes may be the next step. Do your research by googling the names of the event leaders and asking for a bit of advice and feedback in a number of different groups before you part with any money or share your details.

Once you find some regular hiking buddies you can start to arrange your own hikes. Read our hiking for beginners advice if you are not sure where to start.

Give It a GO!

Do you have any stories around activity or sports groups you have joined that you would like to share on Get Outside to help inspire others to give it a go? I’d love to hear from you email me at hilary.pullen@os.uk or find me on Instagram @nearlyuphill

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By Hilary Pullen

Meet Hilary, Editor of Get Outside – the Ordnance Survey Blog. Hilary is based in North Wales and loves hiking with her dogs in the mountains of Eryri and Bryniau Clwyd, you can find her on Instagram @nearlyuphill and read her guides to walking in North Wales on her blog. Drop her an email hilary.pullen@os.uk if you are interested in posting an article on Get Outside.