The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) has worked with communities across Birmingham throughout the pandemic. We have maintained and built trust with communities in areas of high deprivation during a time of increased anxiety, isolation, and for many people crisis.
We have been working with those who could benefit the most from health and wellbeing interventions but face the most significant barriers to engaging and participating. Supporting them to identify, mitigate, and remove these barriers and provide opportunities into activity.
For some the first step is to transition into a community group from one of our 1-2-1 services, for others it can be hearing about us from a friend or seeing us at your local.
our sessions are a great way to explore your community, meet others, socialise and create friendships that last outside the session.
Our group activities take place in local parks. They follow the wellbeing walk model whereby people are able to get active, meet others, chat, and get other support if they need it. All of our running groups are managed via a TAWS senior-run leader but are led predominantly by volunteers.
Meet the Walk/Run team
Sally Bynoe
Hi, I’m Sally and I am the Walking and Running Coordinator at TAWS. I joined the organisation in 2018 from Sport Birmingham where my role as a Run Activator continued. I became the Walking and Running Coordinator in August 2021. I started my running journey in April 2014 after separating from my ex-husband and recognising that I needed to do something for myself and that I should probably do a bit of exercise. I started out going to parkrun once a week and found that I loved how I felt afterwards. I enjoyed the support I received and also enjoyed encouraging and supporting other people. I felt very lucky when a few years later after having moved back to the Midlands, a job supporting people in this way came up. I occasionally enter half marathon events now with the occasional 6 hour event thrown in too and enjoy playing softball in the summer with my team Coventry Blitz.
Rahema Mamodo
Hi, my name is Rahema and I have been in the run/walk team for just under a year. I started running back in November 2018 when I decided to get more active and joined the couch to 5k program with a local running group. After completing my graduation 5k run in January 2019, I continued running and sharing my new found passion with friends (and anyone who would listen to me!). Eventually I completed a Runleader course to help others like me who thought that running may not be for them. I have since completed two marathons and many half marathons and am training for my third marathon and an ultra marathon this year!
Tracey Fogarty
Hi my name is Tracey Fogarty and I am part of the run walk team. My run journey restarted in 2018 being unfit, overweight and menopausal needing to improve my health and wellbeing. I continued with the run groups for a few years building my confidence and ability and went on to become a volunteer . In 2023 I became a part time member of the TAWS team, leading both run and walking groups in the local areas of Shard End, Tile Cross, Sheldon, Pype Hayes and Castle Vale. I am also part of a running group that book events and days, out supporting each other, promoting physical exercise, achieving their goals whilst supporting a small charity.
