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In September, our Walking Schools Team Manager Carl Greenwood and I travelled to Kaunas in Lithuania to attend and present at the Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) conference.
The HEPA conference is an annual European event that brings together academics, practitioners and policy makers from across Europe (and beyond) to share their ideas and research around physical activity and health. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Taking steps towards sustainability’.
Over 3 days, we heard keynote speakers explore how physical activity and sport can become more sustainable in the face of climate change, social inequality, and growing pressure on communities and economies. The talks encouraged us to think about how our projects can support long-term, positive change.
Speakers also invited us to consider the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, using them as a framework for planning healthier, greener and more inclusive communities. They challenged us to consider whether all types of physical activity are equally sustainable. For example, if an activity requires additional travel, specialist equipment or high energy use, does it still support climate goals?
Some speakers suggested that national physical activity guidelines could include advice on environmental impact, the same way healthy eating guidelines encourage seasonal or local food choices.
In all of this, walking and wheeling stood out as clear, sustainable options that help people stay active, while reducing environmental impact.
Our team also had the opportunity to get involved and share our work. Carl and I presented early findings from our KTP funded project with the Universities of Stirling, Edinburgh and the Highlands and Islands. The project focuses on working with secondary school pupils to co-create a digital walking resource that will inspire young people to walk or wheel more.
In our first presentation, we gave an overview of the work of Walking Scotland and the aims of our KTP project. We shared how we have been involving young people through co-production activities and discussed what we have learned from this process so far.
In my second presentation, I shared my findings from a rapid review of co-approaches used to create health initiatives for young people in secondary schools. The review highlighted the lack of guidance on meaningfully involving young people in designing health projects. This makes our work, and the work of other third sector organisations like Walking Scotland, even more important.
It was encouraging to see how strongly our presentations connected with the work happening in other European countries. Many other projects are also focusing on involving young people when designing programmes to improve their health.
With more than 300 delegates, the conference offered lots of opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from others and build new connections. The conference’s social programme included things like guided walks, which helped us explore Kaunas and learn more about its history, people and architecture. We also had time to explore Kaunas’ old town and city centre, which had some excellent examples of well-designed and maintained public areas, with lots of pedestrianised streets, pocket gardens, public art and parks.
We returned home feeling inspired and energised, with new ideas that will support our work to create a healthier and more sustainable future through walking and wheeling.
Next year’s Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) conference will be hosted by Ljubljana in Slovenia and will focus on Green Pathways to Health. Read more about the work of HEPA.
Published: 18 November 2025
