Travel Hands Journey: A Serene Walk in Victoria Park with Travel Hands Community

"Wake up early, yawn all day." This was the one-time passcode given to both me and a Visually Impaired Person (VIP) to correctly identify each other. On October 3rd, 2024, I had the privilege of being a Travel Hands volunteer, where my role was to assist Clara, a VIP, in navigating from Hackney Wick Overground Station to an event in Victoria Park, and later back to the station.

I was excited yet slightly nervous about meeting Clara for our journey. I had messaged her apologizing for being 10 minutes late. When I arrived, she was waiting patiently at the station. As I greeted her, I needed to confirm that she was the VIP I was to assist, so I asked her for the one-time passcode. With a mix of anticipation and emotion in her expression, she awaited my response. Nervously, I said, "Wake up early, yawn all day." Her face lit up with a warm smile, and in that moment, any anxiety I had melted away. With a sense of relief shared between us, we began our walk to the park.

Following my training, Clara took my left arm, as per her preference, which the Travel Hands app had thoughtfully reminded me about. As we walked, she shared stories of her life, her home in Stratford, and her deep connection to Victoria Park, a place that held significant meaning for her growing up. Clara explained that she had lost most of her sight due to macular degeneration, retaining only limited vision in one eye. Her openness made our walk even more meaningful, and I felt privileged to share in her journey.

Upon arriving at the park, I guided us towards the event—a collaboration between Travel Hands and the Bromley by Bow Health (BBBH) team. Jessica Walker, Population Health Senior Manager, from BBBH joined us at the hub café, and as we were the first participants to arrive, I made sure to secure seating for our group of 30. As the CEO of Travel Hands, I was eager for the event’s success and a bit anxious about how the next three hours would unfold. Yet, as I walked with Clara, a sense of calm washed over me, and my initial worries started to dissipate. The tension I had been carrying felt like it had transformed into a manageable calmness.

The event centered around a heritage walk designed by Polly Jarman from the Bromley by Bow Centre (BBBC). Each VIP was paired with a Travel Hands volunteer, and together, they followed a map that highlighted six trees of significance. As we walked, we were encouraged to touch and feel the texture of the trees, deepening our connection with the environment. After an hour of walking, the group reconvened at the café to reflect on the experience over refreshments.

As for me, I tried capturing photos of the participants throughout the park. Within the first 15 minutes, I quickly realized that Victoria Park was much larger than I had imagined! Even after racing through the wooded areas, I couldn’t photograph everyone. Nevertheless, the walk itself was a serene and humbling experience. The lush green pathways intertwined beautifully with the bright autumn sunshine, creating a perfect setting for reflection.

When we all gathered at the café, it was clear that the energy in the group had amplified. Each participant shared their experience, and it felt as though the park itself had contributed to our collective sense of calm and connection. Nature had worked its magic, leaving us all a little more energized, grounded, and connected to one another.

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Planning Stage: Organizing the Travel Hands Event at Victoria Park

Background
Travel Hands is proud to be one of the winners of the Investec Beyond Business Program 2023, organized by Investec and the Bromley by Bow Centre (BBBC). Through this program, we were introduced to Jessica Walker from the Bromley by Bow Health (BBBH) team by our monitoring officer. Jessica was instrumental in helping us shape this event, suggesting we host it in Victoria Park, a beautiful and accessible location in East London.

Collaboration and Networking
Jessica also introduced us to Polly from the Bromley by Bow Centre, who assisted in designing the event. We were invited to participate in the E3 Breakfast at BBBC, held quarterly, where we networked with various stakeholders, including charities, NHS teams, social prescribing representatives, and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organizations. These interactions allowed us to refine our concept and engage key participants for our event. Through this network, we extended invitations to individuals and groups who aligned with our mission to foster inclusion and community participation.

Event Concept
The event, held on 3rd October 2024, was designed to connect Visually Impaired Persons (VIPs) with Travel Hands volunteers through a guided heritage walk in Victoria Park. Participants followed a map highlighting six key trees, encouraging sensory exploration through touch and feel, and allowing them to learn more about the park's natural environment. The walk aimed to promote social interaction, physical activity, and inclusion while exploring nature.

VIPs Feedback

After the event, we gathered feedback from the VIPs via calls, which provided valuable insights:

• Mahendra: "It was a wonderful experience. I enjoyed it a lot. You should conduct similar events every two months."
• Amorette: "I had a great time. We enjoyed walking in the park with a Travel Hand and meeting new people."
• Idnan Modi: "Thank you for inviting me. I enjoyed meeting new people and walking around the park while learning about the trees. I was looking for something like this to help me get outside more."
• Alan Fitzjohn: "I had a good time. The time was limited, but I enjoyed learning about the trees."
• Clara (Name changed on request): "I had a very good time. I loved socializing with new people at the park."
• Ying To: "I am grateful to have attended the event at Victoria Park. I had a great time. Thank you for inviting me."

What We Learned & Expected Outcomes

Key Learnings:

1. Sensory Exploration: The heritage walk, which encouraged participants to interact with the natural environment by touching and feeling the trees, was particularly well-received. It helped connect the VIPs to nature in a meaningful way and offered a learning experience for both VIPs and their Travel Hands. We realised that designing sensory based activities in the future will bring more engagement from VIPs. 
2. Community Engagement: The event successfully brought together diverse participants, including VIPs, Travel Hands, and members of various health and social organizations. The feedback indicated a strong desire for more frequent events that promote socialization and outdoor activities.
3. Feedback Loop: We felt the event was a great platform to invite people to share feedback individually and in groups. Especially, the feedback on the way we operate and work resonated with Travel Hands team. 
4. Importance of Regularity: Several VIPs expressed interest in having similar events on a more regular basis (e.g., every two months). This suggests that these types of community-oriented, inclusive events are in high demand and offer a valuable opportunity for social and physical engagement.
5. Event Scale & Structure: While the event was generally well-received, some participants felt that the time was too limited. For future events, we could consider extending the duration or offering more opportunities to engage with different aspects of the environment or social activities.
6. Collaboration: We received inputs from BBBH and BBBC teams on what would be the best engagement terms for the event. Brainstorming ideas worked for us immensely. 

Expected Outcomes:

• Fostering Inclusion: The event reinforced the importance of creating inclusive environments where VIPs can freely engage with the community, meet new people, and participate in activities that improve their quality of life.
• Physical & Mental Well-being: By organizing these walks, we aimed to promote physical activity and mental well-being among VIPs, helping them feel more connected to their surroundings and community.
• Building Networks: This event helped strengthen the relationship between Travel Hands and other community organizations, laying the foundation for future collaborations that further support visually impaired individuals and their inclusion in society.

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Lastly, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Jessica Walker and Polly Jarman from the Bromley by Bow Centre (BBBC) for their invaluable contributions and collaboration. Their support played a significant role in the success of this event, and we are truly grateful. No event of ours would be possible without the dedication of our amazing Travel Hands volunteers, who work tirelessly to make the lives of VIPs safer, more independent, and more comfortable. Your commitment is at the core of what we do.

I also invite all of you to join us in our mission of "Turning Movement into Good." Please feel free to share your ideas or express your interest in the comments below, so together we can create new and meaningful events for our VIPs.

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