The nationwide Walk for Wellbeing initiative has hit an impressive milestone this year, raising over £500,000 for the UK charity Hospitality Action since its launch in 2020.
This outstanding achievement reflects the powerful unity of the hospitality community, with thousands taking part each year to support essential mental health and wellbeing services for individuals and families throughout the industry.
Walk for Wellbeing joined Newcastle’s hospitality calendar for the first time this year for a 10km hosted walk, bringing together teams, friends, and families from across the city to raise essential funds for mental health and wellbeing in the industry.
This October saw more than 1,400 people from across the industry – the most to date – unite for this year’s Walk for Wellbeing, raising an outstanding £165,000. In the past year alone, the funds from the initiative have been applied to support hospitality households with clearing priority debts, preventing homelessness, and helping with mental health support.
Debrah Dhugga, Executive Hospitality and Wellness Advisor, said:
“What an amazing day for this year’s Walking for Wellbeing along the beautiful North East coastline – from The Tynemouth Castle Inn to St Mary’s Lighthouse and back! The sun was shining, spirits were high, and we enjoyed incredible treats from Bidfood, The Ice Cream Parlour at The Castle Inn, Lanchester Wines, and Jesmond Dene House Hotel.
“We’ve already raised £6,000 for Hospitality Action and hope to reach £7,500 after our NEHA Dinner in November. A huge thank-you to everyone who joined. In these challenging times for our industry, it was a special day full of sunshine, laughter, and community spirit!”
Powered by hospitality talent and recruitment partner mum in partnership with Caterer.com, Imperial London Hotels, and Sona, this year’s event saw Cornwall, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and York join the growing grassroots movement, bringing the total number of host cities to twelve, including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
Participants gathered to take part in hosted walks across the UK, from city streets to scenic parks and waterfronts, which not only offered an enjoyable challenge but also created a sense of community and togetherness, highlighting the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the industry. In addition, hundreds of people also chose to ‘Walk It Your Way’ between World Mental Health Day on 10 October and 26 October, raising even more awareness and vital funds for this worthy cause.
Mark Lewis, CEO of Hospitality Action, said,
“Walk for Wellbeing is about so much more than walking – it’s about the hospitality community coming together to look after its own. The funds raised have a real, lasting impact, helping prevent homelessness, ease financial pressures and support mental health for our colleagues and their families. Since 2020, Hospitality Action has awarded over £5 million in grants, and initiatives like Walk for Wellbeing play a vital role in sustaining this support and ensuring it reaches those who need it most.”
The seventh annual Walk for Wellbeing will return in October 2026, with hosted walks planned across the UK. For more information, please email [email protected].
