What started as a creative idea to make walking more enjoyable has become an exciting activity for the people we support in Carmarthen.
When Team Leader Hillary noticed that traditional walks often came with barriers, worries or a firm "no thank you", she knew a different approach was needed. While some people were reluctant to go for walks, others simply did not find them engaging. Drawing on her understanding of the people she supports, Hillary began looking for a creative way to make being active feel more enjoyable, meaningful and accessible.
Rather than focusing on walking itself, Hillary shifted the focus to exploration and discovery. By transforming everyday walks into themed scavenger hunts, she created activities that encouraged people to explore, solve challenges and spend time outdoors without the pressure of taking part in a traditional walk.
Each scavenger hunt was carefully designed around individual interests, ensuring every experience felt personal and engaging. Themes have included pirate adventures complete with treasure-style challenges, as well as Wicked-inspired quests that transformed familiar routes into magical journeys. Clues were hidden around Carmarthen and along local walking routes, encouraging participants to explore their surroundings, follow clues and move at their own pace.
Kayleigh O'Shea, Scheme Manager, said: "When Hillary recognised that traditional walks weren't engaging everyone, she looked at how she could make being active more enjoyable. By turning walks into adventures based on each person's interests, she's created something people genuinely look forward to while helping them become more active."
Because the hunts were based on interests, hobbies and themes that people already enjoyed, they quickly became something participants were excited to take part in. What started as a new approach to walking soon became a regular and highly anticipated activity, with people keen to discover new clues and complete each challenge.
The impact has been significant. The people we support have embraced the scavenger hunts, often walking further, staying outdoors for longer and interacting more confidently with their local community without even realising how active they are being. The activities have also encouraged communication, teamwork and problem-solving as participants work together to uncover clues and complete their adventures.
One of the most rewarding outcomes has been seeing people grow in confidence. The playful nature of the activities helped ease any initial worries, allowing people to participate in a way that felt comfortable and enjoyable. Over time, the team has seen individuals achieve things they may not have previously thought possible, whether that is completing a longer route, tackling a challenging clue or simply developing greater confidence when out and about in their community.
Kayleigh added: "We've seen people walking further, spending more time outdoors and growing in confidence without even realising it. It's also been wonderful to see so much laughter, teamwork and pride as people complete the scavenger hunts together. It's a brilliant example of person-centred support making a real difference."
This imaginative approach demonstrates how understanding what matters to each individual can transform everyday activities into meaningful experiences. By adapting activities around people's interests and preferences, Hillary has helped turn being active into something enjoyable, purposeful and rewarding.
The success of the scavenger hunts highlights the positive impact that creative, person-centred support can have. Through her imagination, dedication and understanding of the people she supports, Hillary has helped people become more active, build confidence, strengthen relationships and enjoy new experiences within their local community.
Well done to Hillary for creating such an innovative initiative that is making a positive difference to the people we support.
