why is the run/walk club perfect for your school?

The Staff Run/Walk Club is a voluntary, non-competitive initiative that supports staff wellbeing, morale, and connection through regular movement.

Once a week, staff are invited to walk or run together at their own pace. Some walk. Some jog. Some join briefly. Some stay longer. All participation is optional.

This is not a fitness program.
It is not compulsory.
It is not another initiative to manage.

It is a simple structure that gives staff permission to move, connect, and reset together in a way that fits the realities of school life.

Across education, staff are carrying heavy cognitive and emotional load. Many wellbeing initiatives are well intentioned, but often add pressure, language, or expectations to people who are already fatigued.

The Staff Run/Walk Club was created as a practical response to that reality.

It works because it is:

• Simple
   
• Voluntary
   
• Inclusive
   
• Non-competitive
   
• Low burden for schools
   
• Easy to trial and easy to step away from
   

Wellbeing improves when it is made easier, not when it is talked about more.

The Staff Run/Walk Club is:

• A school-based wellbeing initiative
   
• Focused on movement, connection, and morale
   
• Designed for all staff roles and abilities
   
• Owned and run locally by schools
   

It is not:

• A performance or fitness program
   
• Competitive or comparative
   
• Compulsory
   
• A compliance requirement
   
• A branded campaign
   

Participation matters more than distance or speed.

The Staff Run/Walk Club is a school-based wellbeing initiative developed by Tony Cox, Wellbeing Education Solutions.
 

The Staff Run/Walk Club is designed to be easy to understand and easy to run.

Each participating school selects a weekly day and time that suits its context. Staff may attend every week, occasionally, or simply try it once.

Participation is always voluntary.

Most schools use a relaxed route of around 3 kilometres as a guide. This distance is:

• Accessible for walkers
   
• Comfortable for runners
   
• Easy to repeat if desired
   
• Flexible if staff wish to do less
   

Staff are welcome to:

• Walk the full route
   
• Jog or run
   
• Turn back early
   
• Repeat the loop if they choose
   

There are no expectations around pace or distance.

Walking is valued equally with running.
There are no leaderboards, rankings, or comparisons.

The focus is on shared participation, not performance.

Each school establishes a private Strava group to support collective tracking and motivation. This allows:

• Group distance totals to be captured
   
• Movement outside the weekly session to be included (optional)
   
• A shared picture of progress over time
   

Staff who do not wish to use Strava may still participate by joining with someone who does, who can log and validate the shared activity.

Strava is used to support motivation and storytelling, not monitoring.

Each week, the school’s nominated contact sends a short, informal wrap-up email to participating staff (opt-in).

These often include:

• Total group distance for the week
   
• Cumulative distance for the term or year
   
• A photo or light highlight
   
• Optional themes or moments of connection
   

Feedback from pilot schools shows these emails are one of the most valued aspects of the club.

Many schools choose to display a simple map or tracker in the staffroom showing how far staff have travelled together over time.

This makes wellbeing visible and builds shared pride without competition.

The Staff Run/Walk Club is a voluntary, school-based initiative. Each participating school is responsible for organising and managing the activity in line with its own workplace health and safety policies and procedures.

Staff are encouraged to participate in ways that suit their own health and circumstances and to move at their own pace.

The Staff Run/Walk Club is a school-based wellbeing initiative developed by Tony Cox, Wellbeing Education Solutions.
 

Schools are under increasing pressure to support staff wellbeing in meaningful ways. At the same time, staff are often overwhelmed by initiatives that add expectation rather than relief. The Staff Run/Walk Club offers a different approach.

Schools choose to adopt this initiative because it:

• Supports staff wellbeing in a visible, practical way  
• Strengthens connection across teams and roles  
• Improves morale without being performative  
• Requires minimal administration  
• Is low cost and low risk to trial  
• Fits within existing school structures  
• Is easy to stop if it does not suit the context  

It respects staff autonomy and dignity.

Participating schools provide:

• A nominated staff contact  
• A consistent weekly time and meeting point  
• A safe, accessible route  
• A supportive leadership tone that protects voluntariness  

Schools manage the activity in line with their existing workplace health and safety processes.

Impact is understood through light-touch, non-intrusive measures such as:

• Participation trends  
• Collective distance milestones  
• Short wellbeing pulse reflections  
• Qualitative staff feedback  

There is no individual monitoring or reporting.

Hear from past participants:

“The Staff Run/Walk Club helped me feel a strong sense of connection to the school community. It created opportunities to connect with colleagues in a genuine way and has assisted me in forming friendships that I expect will last well beyond my time at the school.”
– Learning Support Assistant

“Being part of the Staff Run/Walk Club gave me a reason to move regularly and do something positive for my mental health. It was convenient, encouraging, and gave me something to look forward to each week.”
– Classroom Teacher

“Knowing I could contribute to a group goal at my own pace helped motivate me to participate. Seeing my activity contribute to the group made me feel supported and encouraged.”
– Specialist Teacher

“It brought staff together in a natural and inclusive way and created space to connect outside usual work circles. It helped staff prioritise their wellbeing without pressure.”
– Youth Worker

Foundation Membership provides schools with everything needed to establish and sustain The Staff Run/Walk Club across the year.

This includes:

• Annual school membership  
• Setup guidance for the nominated contact  
• Staff communication templates  
• Guidance on Strava use and privacy  
• Weekly wrap-up email examples  
• Distance tracking and mapping templates  
• Ongoing email support for clarification  

Cost: $650 per school, per yearOptional additional wellbeing support (small group sessions, 1:1 coaching, or professional learning) is available separately if required.

The Staff Run/Walk Club is a school-based wellbeing initiative developed by Tony Cox, Wellbeing Education Solutions. 

 Tony Cox – Wellbeing Education Solutions
© 2026. All rights reserved. 

If you are exploring practical ways to support staff wellbeing, morale, and connection, you are welcome to request the School Approach Pack for The Staff Run/Walk Club.

The pack includes:

• A concise overview for school leaders  
• Clear explanation of how the initiative works  
• What it is and is not  
• What schools need to provide  
• Frequently asked questions  
• Foundation Membership details  

There is no obligation. This is simply an opportunity to review the information and decide whether it suits your context.