Craig Prentice, Founder and Director, mum | Creator, Walk for Wellbeing | Patron, Hospitality Action
What gave you the idea for Walk for Wellbeing, and how has it grown since you first launched it?
Walk for Wellbeing started back in 2020, at a time when the hospitality industry, like so many others, was facing enormous uncertainty. The pandemic had turned our world upside down, and for an industry built around bringing people together, suddenly finding ourselves disconnected from one another was incredibly difficult.
I wanted to create something positive, something that would bring people together, encourage conversations around mental health and wellbeing, and remind everyone that they weren’t alone.
Walking felt like such a natural fit. It’s accessible, doesn’t require any special equipment or experience, and offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, get outdoors and take some time for yourself.
What started as a relatively simple idea has grown into something far bigger than I could ever have imagined. Now in it’s 7th year, Walk for Wellbeing has become a nationwide initiative, bringing together thousands of people from across hospitality and beyond, while raising more than £500,000 for Hospitality Action.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that it has never been about one person or one business. It’s about a community of people showing up for each other. From our wonderful volunteers and walk hosts to the sponsors, supporters and everyone who has taken part, it’s their generosity, enthusiasm and commitment that have made Walk for Wellbeing what it is today.
And seeing the initiative continue to grow under the stewardship of Hospitality Action is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Walk for Wellbeing has raised more than £500,000 for Hospitality Action. Can you explain how that money helps people working in hospitality who are struggling?
Reaching the £500,000 milestone was quite emotional, actually. When we launched Walk for Wellbeing, I don’t think any of us could have imagined the impact it would go on to have.
Hospitality Action is an extraordinary charity, providing a lifeline to people working in our industry when they need it most.
The money raised helps fund essential services, including financial assistance for those facing hardship, mental health and wellbeing support, counselling and practical advice for people navigating some incredibly difficult circumstances.
And importantly, that support extends beyond the workplace. We all know that the challenges people face in their personal lives don’t simply disappear when they arrive for a shift.
For me, that’s what makes Hospitality Action so special. It understands the people behind the job titles and the uniforms and recognises that sometimes life can take an unexpected turn and any one of us might need a helping hand.
Every donation, however big or small, contributes to that support. It’s wonderful to celebrate the fundraising milestones, but what really matters is the difference that money can make to someone’s life.
Mental health and wellbeing are still big issues across hospitality. From your experience, where does the industry need to do more to support its people?
I think we’ve made some positive progress as an industry, particularly in how openly we’re now talking about mental health and wellbeing. Conversations that perhaps wouldn’t have happened a few years ago are becoming much more commonplace, and that’s something we should recognise.
But there’s still plenty of work to do.Hospitality can be an incredibly rewarding industry to work in, but it can also be demanding. Long hours, unpredictable schedules, financial pressures and the expectation to always be ‘on’ can take their toll.
I think one of the biggest opportunities is to move beyond simply talking about wellbeing and make sure it’s genuinely reflected in how we lead, manage and support our people.
That means creating workplaces where people feel comfortable speaking up, where managers have the confidence and skills to recognise when someone might be struggling, and where looking after people’s wellbeing is seen as part of running a successful business, rather than an additional initiative.
We also need to recognise that wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all. People have different circumstances, responsibilities and challenges, and what support looks like for one person may be very different for another.
And perhaps most importantly, we need to keep listening.
Working in recruitment, I have the privilege of speaking to people across hospitality every day, and it’s clear that culture, leadership, flexibility and feeling valued are hugely important.
For me, a healthy and happy hospitality industry is one where looking after people isn’t just something we talk about, but something we demonstrate through our actions and behaviours every single day.
What can people expect from this year’s Walk for Wellbeing, and how can hotels and hospitality businesses get involved?
More of what makes Walk for Wellbeing so special: wonderful people, great conversations, a sense of community and plenty of fresh air!
This year’s initiative launched on World Mental Health Day, Saturday 10 October, with organised walks taking place across the UK until Sunday 25 October.
The beauty of Walk for Wellbeing is its simplicity. It’s not a race, there’s no pressure to achieve a particular distance or time, and you certainly don’t need to be particularly fit to get involved.
It’s about coming together, taking some time away from the demands of everyday life, connecting with others and supporting an incredibly important cause.
For hotels and hospitality businesses, there are so many ways to participate. Teams can sign up for an organised walk, encourage colleagues to get involved, organise their own walks, fundraise, donate or simply help spread the word.
It’s also a lovely opportunity for businesses to bring their teams together outside of the workplace, away from the usual routines and pressures.
One thing I’d really encourage employers to do is make participation as accessible as possible. Hospitality operates seven days a week, and we know that not everyone can take time away from work on a particular day.
Whether it’s supporting a team to join a hosted walk or organising something locally that works around shifts, every bit of involvement makes a difference.
For anyone who can’t make one of the organised walks, they can still take part in their own way. How does that work, and what would you say to someone thinking about getting involved for the first time?
Through Walk It Your Way, people can get involved wherever they are, whenever works for them. Whether that’s a lunchtime walk with colleagues, taking the dog out, meeting a friend for a stroll or simply enjoying some time outdoors, there’s no set distance, pace or expectation.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the difference between what we can do and what we will do. We’re all busy, with competing priorities and pressures, but Walk for Wellbeing is about showing up and doing what you can, when you can.
And if walking isn’t possible, donating, sharing our message or encouraging others to get involved can make just as much of a difference.
To anyone thinking about taking part for the first time, I’d simply say give it a go! You’ll meet some wonderful people, support an incredible cause and hopefully do your own wellbeing some good along the way.
GET INVOLVED: WALK FOR WELLBEING 2026
Find out more about Walk for Wellbeing 2026 and get involved here: