17 June 2015
Walking and talking autism in Lincolnshire and Norfolk
A volunteering project offering support to families of young children in with autistic spectrum disorders
Literally following in the footsteps of her Wells to Canterburywalk last year, speech and language therapist and acclaimed autism practitioner Gina Davies will this summer be ‘walking the walk and talking the talk’ as she travels by foot from Lincolnshire to Norfolk during July and August. Along the way, Gina will be volunteering her services to families of young children with autistic spectrum disorders as well as professionals interested in learning more about her practical methods.
Setting off from the City of Lincolnon the 17th July and concluding her journey in Norwich on August 4th, Gina will be walking old pilgrim routes and footpaths and offer free consultations to parents and talks to professionals and carers in exchange for a meal or packed lunch. Gina will visit families near the route at their homes.
“The consultations are one-offs but they do present opportunitiesto think through and tackle many of the practical daily challenges that come with autism, including communication, sleeping, eating and behaviour,” explains Gina. “My intention and hope is that by offering direct support to families in their homes along the way, my little bit of volunteering might go some way to help.”
During her walk from Wells in Somerset to Canterbury in Kent last year, Gina was joined on her journey by parents and families as well as colleagues from educational psychology, speech and language therapy and education.
“The rhythm of walking and the time can create a great space for creative discussion, the sharing of ideas and opinions, and I would be delighted to share parts of my journey with anyone interested in talking about autism,” adds Gina. “The discussions that I had last year were energetic, insightful and thoughtful, as well as great fun, as we shared experiences and considered how things might be tackled differently.”
The timing of Gina’s walk has less to do with the British summer weather – which last year threw at her the usual mix of sunshine and showers - and more to do with the timing of school and summer holidays.
“This is a period when schools are closed and there is more free time, especially for families with children and people working in education,” says Gina. “For many it’s a time to relax and enjoy the break, however, for families with young children on the autistic spectrum the long summer holiday period can be a daunting prospect and exhausting at the same time. If I can help to relieve any of these pressures in any way then my journey is a worthwhile one.”
This year’s route from begins in Lincoln on to Peterborough (via the Spires and Steeples footpath and Viking Way), then Ely (via The Hereward Way) and up to Kings Lynn and the Norfolk Coastal Path, on to Cromer, then onward to Great Yarmouth using the Weavers Way footpath, finally arriving in to Norwich (via Wherrymans Way).
The volunteering is not designed to take the place of existing services, but rather the offer of experience gained over the years to families who might like to try. The project is not designed to be a marketing strategy, nor a fund raising event, and no sponsorship is involved.
For anyone interested in Gina’s walking and talking autism project, please email:
Further details about this volunteering project and the route can be found at
Further details about Gina’s work can be viewed at
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Glen Goldsmith
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