UK's largest train company and Mind hosted their first hike to announce partnership

Data from Mind shows that one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year,* and new research from the UK’s largest train company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), shows that almost 80% (79%) of Brits believe taking a walk is good for their mental health.

In light of this, Southern Rail, which GTR operates, hosted its first hike in partnership with the mental health charity Mind on Saturday, March 22.

Walking groups Common Ground and Gorp Girls helped Southern Rail and Mind host the hike, which took place in Box Hill, Surrey. 200 tickets for the event were released by the rail operator, showing how easy it can be to reap the benefits of the outdoors, as one in five Brits shared that they travel into nature via train.

Hannah da Silva, Founder of Gorp Girls, explains that: “We loved being a part of this hike with Southern Rail, Mind, and Common Ground! We’ve seen the real-life benefits of hosting walking groups, with our walks attracting over 500 girls last year. What Gorp Girls stands for resonates entirely with Southern Rail’s research, where over half (53%) of women agree that it’s easier to have a conversation about mental health while out in nature.”

Joel Moore, Co-Founder of Common Ground, says: “It was great to welcome so many people on this hike. At Common Ground, we aim to create an open environment where attendees can meet like-minded individuals and decompress from their busy lives. It’s fascinating to know that almost 60% of Brits feel more connected to people while walking. This is something Common Ground truly embraces, and we loved bringing this to life on this hike!”

Walking groups like Common Ground and Gorp Girls have massively risen in popularity, with the search for ‘local walking groups’ rising 300%.** Both Common Ground and Gorp Girls are no stranger to this - already engaging with thousands of Gen Z and Millennials across the country.

Seven in 10 Brits (71%) believe that joining a walking group can help reduce feelings of loneliness. Therefore, this new data from the train company shows that walking groups could help contribute to improvements in mental health. Two-thirds of Brits (66%) also believe a short walk can clear their heads.

Angie Doll, Chief Executive Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, says: “We are excited to have hosted our first Rail Trail hike at Box Hill with Mind. At a time when more people than ever are experiencing mental health problems, we want to shine a light on the importance of clearing your mind and resetting in nature via our rail network.

"Travelling via train and hiking is a great way to explore new parts of the country and improve wellbeing. Almost 80% of Brits believe that taking a walk is good for their mental health, and walking groups offer the perfect opportunity for people to form new connections and get into the great outdoors.”

Over 40% of Brits felt that spending time in nature can help improve their mood, and almost half (43%) would consider joining a walking group. Brits see the top three benefits to joining a walking group as: getting fresh air (52%), meeting new people (47%), and being in nature (45%) - therefore this Southern Rail and Mind hike was the perfect way to embrace all of this.

Andrew Berrie, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Mind, says: “We know that physical activity can have a positive impact on our mental health, which is why we’re thrilled to have hosted this Rail Trail Hike with GTR. A big thank you to Gorp Girls and Common Ground for making this event possible, and creating space for connection and conversation.”

This hike was focused on people having a safe space to connect with others and have conversations around mental health. It encourages people to get outdoors via the train and reap the benefits of nature. If desired, donations to Mind can be made via Mind’s website.