A Glasgow taxi driver is geared up to break down barriers with his new walking group initiative. 

Scott Richards, 40, from Barlanark, has set up the 'East End walk and talk' group after being "shaken" by recent confessions made during his taxi shifts. 

Scott said: "Over the last couple of months, more and more people have been opening up to me about their anxiety, addictions, mental health and suicidal thoughts.

"It has really shaken me.

"After hearing all of that, I really had it in my heart that I wanted to help as many people in the East End as I could.

"I'm a recovering addict myself and I've turned my life around, and I want to show others that it's possible to turn theirs around too.

"And that's where this initiative has come from."

READ MORE: Tollcross care home set up foodbank for local community

Glasgow Times:

The walk and talk group will meet every Sunday at 6pm outside the fountain at Glasgow Green.

The group will walk around the perimeter of the park, including main roads, and along the stretch of the Clydeside.

The walk is completely free and is available to anyone who wants to exercise and find a place to open up about any hardships they are or have faced.

READ MORE: Glasgow mum lost two stone in six weeks to make sure kids ate

Scott said: "I want this to be a chance for people to get a bit of exercise, make new friends and just get out of the house or their heads for just an hour."

Scott, who has already helped a handful of people get into cocaine anonymous after opening up to him, hopes that this new initiative will have the same positive effect.

Glasgow Times:

He said: "I hope this initiative will break down barriers between people in the community.

"Walking and talking is massive for breaking down those walls and if people come along and talk honestly and openly, then the sky is the limit.

"It can be hard for people to admit that they have any kind of issue, but I hope that people will get over their fear and turn up on Sunday.

"I'm apprehensive but I know the community needs this."

READ MORE: Cumbernauld ex-con turns life around and escapes ‘young team’ culture

Sunday, February 5 will be the first-ever session of the East End walk and talk group, and the community is already abuzz with the new addition.

Scott stated that people have been responding very positively to the initiative via Facebook and Twitter and that several people have already claimed their attendance.

Scott added: "The reception has been really positive so far which I'm ecstatic about. It feels really promising."

To get in contact for more information about the group, click HERE 

The group will follow Time to Talk Day, which will take place on Thursday, February 2.

The day is for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. 

To find out more, click HERE