Last week we were involved in a picturesque wellbeing walk and lunch from Baslow to Chatsworth House, Derbyshire in Partnership with the University of Derby.

The University of Derby had the chance for Carers and Student Nurses to talk informally about caring, the impacts on their wellbeing, and how health professionals can support them!

The walk was organised and led by Derbyshire Voluntary Action’s Community Chesterfield project.

Participants, including members and staff of Derbyshire Carers Association, student nurses, and staff from the University of Derby, embarked on this walk with a shared commitment to understanding the challenges faced by unpaid carers and learning how these experiences influence the healthcare field and studies.

The walk also included a mindfulness session, which allowed participants to stop and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and fully engage in the present moment. This also provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of  mental well-being and self-care.

Below is just some of the feedback on the day.

“It was wonderful to see students engaging with the carers in an organic and informal environment. They were able to develop an understanding of the struggles and barriers that carers face on a daily basis, which will enable them to positively influence these experiences in practice.” – Faith Vargas, Programme Leader for Student Experience (BSc Adult Nursing) at the University of Derby

“It was great to get out into the fresh air to talk to carers about their experiences. It’s helped me with my thoughts about interacting with carers as a nurse in the future.” – Adele, Student Nurse at the University of Derby