Police and Crime Commissioner celebrates first anniversary of The Slow Girls Walk Club with surprise visit

Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner joins The Slow Girls Walk Club, Chapel en le Frith to celebrate one year of women walking together in the High Peak.

Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts, and Deputy PCC Dr Fatima Eltinay paid a surprise visit to The Slow Girls Walk Club™ on Tuesday 28 July, joining the group to mark just over a year since it first began walking together in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The visit was a long time in the making. Sally first contacted the PCC’s office in February to invite them along to see the club for themselves, though a reply — let alone a visit — was far from guaranteed. Between maternity leave and busy diaries, it took a while for a date to be arranged, but the eventual visit was well worth the wait.

To keep the surprise intact, members were told only that a “special guest” would be joining that evening’s walk. When Nicolle and Fatima arrived, they were met with genuine warmth and excitement. Around 30 women, two men, Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts’ baby and four very excited dogs were there to welcome them.

Throughout the evening, Nicolle and Fatima walked alongside members, chatting and listening to their stories, and hearing first-hand what the club has meant to the women who come along week after week. Conversations ranged from women’s safety to community, confidence, and simply the value of having somewhere to go where you’re never on your own.

In just over a year, The Slow Girls Walk Club™ has grown from a handful of women taking small steps together into a Lived Experience (LERO) accredited community walking group, now supported by more than 23 partner organisations. Together, members have completed- as of Tuesday 4th August

 * 126 walks.

* 153 hours of fresh air and conversation.

*  Around 262 miles walked together.

The club has also featured in local media, including Derbyshire Life. On the night of the visit, Sally marked a personal milestone of her own too — having now walked alongside 92 different women since the club began.

But the club has grown in more than just numbers. Alongside organising the walks, Sally has completed more than 300 hours of training in her own time, covering areas like mental health awareness, safeguarding, Alcohol and Substance abuse and suicide prevention. She’s the first to admit she never imagined having the confidence to do any of this a year ago — but the trust, support and encouragement shown by the women who turn up week after week has pushed her to keep learning, so she can keep showing up for them too. Combined with her own lived experience, that ongoing learning is what’s shaped the club into somewhere built on real empathy, not just company on a walk.

“It meant so much that they took the time to come and see what we’re really about,” said Sally.

“I first reached out back in February, and I completely understood why it took a little while to make it happen. But having Nicolle and Fatima join us, walk with us, and genuinely listen to the women in our group made it so worthwhile.

“This club has never just been just about walking. It’s about helping women feel less alone, building confidence, supporting them, making friends, and giving people a reason to get out of the house. To have that recognised and praised by Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, right as we celebrated our first year together, was incredibly special.”

A spokesperson for the PCC’s office said:

“Women’s safety is a major priority for both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, and they really appreciated the opportunity to see first-hand the safe space that’s been created for women to walk together and talk about a range of subjects. They were delighted to join the group on a walk and discuss the positive impact the club has made for women in the area.”

The visit was also attended by PCSO Karen Green from Buxton Safer Neighbourhood Team, who spent time chatting with members and brought along personal safety information and crime prevention leaflets. Karen also helped women sign up to the Derbyshire Alert scheme, so they can get local policing updates and community safety information straight from Derbyshire Constabulary. The evening was also photographed by Tim on behalf of the PCC’s office.

After the walk, Morrisons Chapel en le Frith kindly opened up their café, providing refreshments and a space for everyone to keep chatting. Morrisons has supported The Slow Girls Walk Club™ since its very earliest days, and this was just the latest example of the community spirit that’s helped the club grow over the past year.

The PCC’s office is expected to share its own coverage of the visit on social media in the coming weeks. They’re also encouraging women across the High Peak to complete Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts’ 2026 Violence Against Women and Girls survey before it closes in mid-August, to help make sure local women’s voices help shape future priorities. [Survey link: Attached ]

About The Slow Girls Walk Club™

The Slow Girls Walk Club™ is a friendly, supportive walking community where women can get outside, move at whatever slow pace suits them, and enjoy good company — no pressure, no judgement. Nobody gets left behind. It’s simply about taking one slow step at a time, together.

The club meets every week by the wash-me machines at the front of Morrisons, Chapel en le Frith. Walks take place Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm, and Fridays at 9.45am. A monthly social is also held on the last Wednesday of each month, 6.30–8pm, at Café Chaps, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The Slow Girls Walk Club™ would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts, Deputy Commissioner Dr Fatima Eltinay, PCSO Karen Green, Photographer Tim, Joshua Iredale PCC’s Office, Morrisons Chapel-en-le-Frith, Café Chaps, every organisation and individuals that have supported the club this past year — and most of all, every woman who has ever walked with us. Whether you’ve joined one walk or one hundred, you’ve helped build a community where people feel welcome, supported, and never alone. Thank you for making the club’s first year so special.

Photo credit: Accompanying photographs were taken by Tim, photographer for the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, during the Commissioner’s visit to The Slow Girls Walk Club™.