The city of Salford will be turned into a giant game as part of our Beat the Street programme.
People of all ages are encouraged to ditch the car and walk, cycle or scoot as part of a drive to take children away from screens and back into nature.
An expected 27,000 children and adults, including 76 primary schools, are due to take part as the event gets communities connecting and exploring, and off their phones.
NHS research links too much screen time with sitting still and not being active — leading to weight gain and affecting sleep and concentration. Research in 2024 by ukative also stated that two-fifths of children want to be more physically active than they currently are.
Beat the Street has now been played by more than two million people in 200 towns and cities across the UK and beyond and, typically, 13% of the population of an area takes part.
Data shows that, after playing Beat the Street, children sat an average of 35 minutes less a day, while for adults, it was down by 29 minutes.
The game starts on 24 September, which is also National Fitness Day, and all residents’ steps will also contribute to greening their local area, with hundreds of trees set to be planted with Greater Manchester charity City of Trees.
Beat the Street Salford is a community initiative commissioned by the Bupa Foundation, with co-funding from Salford City Council, Canal & River Trust, and Sport England through National Lottery funding. The programme is delivered by Intelligent Health.
Anna Russell, Director of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at the Bupa Foundation, said: “We’re excited to bring Beat the Street to Salford. The game is designed to help people of all ages make small changes to their daily routine that can make a big difference to their health, all while having fun.
“It’s free to take part so why not sign up and enjoy getting active and exploring the area on foot. Whether you’re walking to school, cycling to the park, or just out for a stroll, every journey counts – and the benefits for health and wellbeing are huge.”
