General
What is The Big Walk?
On 10th December, join a nationwide effort to fight homelessness by doing your own walk for Shelter. Simply walk 3k, 5k or 10k in your local area. You can do the walk in all lockdown conditions.
NB: If you can’t make our main date, don’t worry: you can walk any time between 7-13th December.
Can anyone organise their own The Big Walk?
Yes. The Big Walk is open to everyone.
Will it cost me anything to sign up?
Nope. It’s completely free.
Where does my money go?
The money you raise helps provide support and advice to the millions of people whose jobs and homes are under threat right now. It also helps us campaign for a stronger safety net for everyone – which includes building more social homes and protecting renters from discrimination and eviction.
It’s been a difficult year, and things have really hit home. But with your help, we can make a big difference to people’s lives.
My question isn’t covered here. Who do I contact?
We’re sorry to hear this page didn’t give you the answers you were looking for.
Please email thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk – and we’ll be more than happy to help.
Is Sleep Walk going ahead this year?
No the event isn't going ahead this year due to the pandemic. To protect our supporters and staff, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel all organised mass events this year.
The good news is that we should be back in 2021 with a brand new walking event – so keep your eyes peeled!
Are there any age restrictions for the event?
Yes. You have to be over 18 to make your own fundraising page and sign up to The Big Walk.
If you’re under 18 and would like to take part, you’ll have to do so with an adult.
What do I do if I’ve signed up, but can’t do the walk anymore?
We're sorry to hear that you’re not able to do The Big Walk anymore. Not to worry, though: simply let us know over email at thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk – and remember to disable your fundraising page in your page settings.
How does COVID-19 impact my walk?
You can do The Big Walk in all lockdown conditions.
However, to protect yourself and everyone on your walk, we advise staying up-to-date with the government’s latest coronavirus guidelines at: gov.uk/coronavirus (for England) and gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19 (for Scotland).
If you're part of a team which includes lots of different households, each household will have to do the walk separately on the day.
You can also complete our risk assessment (you can find this on our resources page) to make sure you are protecting yourself and everyone on your walk
Signing up
I haven’t received a confirmation email yet. Am I registered?
You should have received a confirmation email when you signed up – and if you haven’t, please check your junk mail.
If you still aren’t having any luck, please email thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk and we’ll get it sorted.
How do I create a team?
After you have registered, you'll be given the option to create a team. Simply click the red 'create a team' button. You will then be able to edit the team name, fundraising target and add your story.
How do I join a team?
After you've registered, you'll be presented with the option to join a team. Simply click the red 'join a team' button and search for the team name you want to join.
I don’t have a team. Can I take part?
Of course. If you prefer to walk solo simply sign up as an individual.
In light of the recent lockdown announcement, can I still walk with my team?
You may be able to walk with some of your team members - so long as you're following the latest guidelines about who you can socialise with outdoors.
You can find out who you can walk with at: gov.uk/coronavirus (for England) and gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19 (for Scotland)
If you're part of a team which includes lots of different households, each household will have to do the walk separately on the day.
Planning your walk
How do I get started?
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive your trusty Walker Guide. It’ll tell you everything you need to know, from choosing a route to spreading the word about your walk.
We’ve also got some chatty talkers (aka. our events team) who are here to answer any questions you might have. You can call them on: 0344 515 1190 or email: thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk.
To top it all off, we’ll even send you regular emails with lots of tips to help you along the way.
Best of luck, and try not to get stuck behind a pesky pack of country ramblers!
Are there any Big Walk groups I can join?
Yes. You can join The Big Walk Facebook group, a community of like-minded ramblers, amblers, trekkers and talkers – all united by their love of walking.
It’s a great place to connect with others, share some ideas, and learn some tips and tricks from the pros.
We’ll also be posting lots of helpful hints and information to keep you inspired, up-to-speed and ready to get your walk on.
Where can I do my walk?
It’s completely up to you. You can walk anywhere from mountains to the sea, the countryside to the city. If that sounds too daunting, just take inspo from Captain Tom and do some laps round your garden.
P.S. Don’t forget to bring your four-legged friends with you on your travels!
How many people can take part?
You can find out how many people can join you on your walk at: gov.uk/coronavirus (for England) and gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19 (for Scotland). As this number could change, please check this page regularly and stay up-to-date.
If you're part of a team which includes lots of different households, each household will have to do the walk separately on the day.
Do I have to walk 10k?
No. You can walk 3k, 5k or 10k. Your Big Walk can be as big (or as little) as you like.
Do I have to do it on the 10th?
Not at all. 10th December is the big day, but you can walk any time between the 7-13th December.
Is there a certain time of day I have to walk?
No. Whether you’re an early riser or evening exerciser, you can walk whenever you like.
How do I update the fitness target on my fundraising page?
Firstly, make sure you're logged in! You need to be logged in using the same email address that you used to create your fundraising page. You should then see an 'edit page' button in the bottom left corner of the screen. If you click this, you'll see there's an area where you can update your fitness target, amongst other things.
Fundraising advice and tools
If I’m organising a walk, what will I get sent and what fundraising tools will be available?
When you register, you’ll receive a free Walker Guide which will tell you everything you need to know about The Big Walk.
If you're organising a walk yourself, you’ll receive some badges, stickers, and even a free bobbletastic woolly hat when you get your first donation.
From punchy posters to striking social posts, you can also download a range of fundraising tools and tell the world about your walk here: thebigwalk.shelter.org.uk/resources
Can I buy any Big Walk merchandise?
If you’re organising the walk yourself, you’ll get some free badges, stickers and a hat when you get your first donation.
If you’ve joined a team which has already been set up, you can buy some head-warming knitted hats and adorable dog bandanas at our online shop:
https://cardshop.shelter.org.uk/collections/sportswear/the-big-walk
How do I fundraise for The Big Walk?
We recommend fundraising through your JustGiving page, which will be automatically created once you have registered.
For more info and more ideas on how to spread the word, please check out our Walker Guide (which you’ll also be sent after registration).
How do I send cash donations to you?
If you get a cash donation, you’ll have to pay in the amount you’ve received to your online fundraising page.
Alternatively, you can send us a cheque or make a bank transfer by emailing: thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk. We’ll provide you with all the info you need from there.
How much do I have to fundraise?
We’re encouraging all walkers to raise a minimum of £80. But aim high: you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.
What happens if I can’t reach £80?
We’re here to support you with your fundraising as much as we can, so please do get in touch at: thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk.
Does Gift Aid count towards my fundraising target?
No: unfortunately, Gift Aid doesn’t count. However, please encourage your donors to include GiftAid in their donations – because it’s a fantastic way to help us raise extra funds, and be there for more people who are struggling with their housing.
Can my money go to a specific project?
No: the money you raise will go to the areas of our work that need it the most. This allows us to be more efficient with your donations – so we can reach the people who urgently need us.
Can I fundraise through a different platform?
We recommend using JustGiving as it’s really efficient and easy-to-use and a fundraising page will be automatically created for you once you have registered.
However, if you’d like to use something else, please let us know by emailing: thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk. Please remember to include your JustGiving URL in the email. Thanks!
I’d like to organise my own Big Walk through my workplace
Great. We’ve got lots of advice for businesses – from corporate fundraising tools that may you might not know about, such as matched giving, to tips on how to get your colleagues psyched up for the big day. To find out more, please email: thebigwalk@shelter.org.uk.
For the latest guidelines on how to keep everyone safe on your walk, please go to: gov.uk/coronavirus (for England) and gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19 (for Scotland).