Derbyshire Sport’s “Active Lunch Challenge” Launched for 2017

Is it too early to be thinking of New Year Resolutions?  The Active Lunch Challenge doesn’t think so. The New Year campaign with a difference aims to spark hundreds more people across Derbyshire into taking up an active lifestyle in 2017.

The eight-week challenge begins on Wednesday January 4 and runs until February 28. It is free for employees, allowing them to log activity and support colleagues in company-wide, local and national challenges.

The  challenge is designed to help people complete ‘bite size’ chunks of exercise of just 10 minutes in and around their working day.

Participants can log their progress online, set personal targets and check their progress alongside their colleagues – with spot prizes for taking part providing even more of a motivation.

“We know that not having enough time in the day presents the biggest barrier to people staying active every day,” said Rachael Dyer, Sport Development Officer for Derbyshire Sport, who run the challenge locally.

“This is about encouraging people to make the most of their time at work especially during the lightest and brightest part of the day over lunch. By introducing small amounts of activity, it can help adults reach a recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Whether that is a quick 10-minute walk to the shop at lunch or taking the stairs to see another colleague, it all counts. Just a little makes a big difference to your life.”

The Active Lunch Challenge is the latest concept by the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge that has already helped more than 2,300 people get up from their desk chairs and get moving. It aims to tackle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and help address Public Health England figures that show an estimated 40 per cent of people do not exercise enough.

More than 400 workplaces have signed up, with more than a quarter of people taking part describing themselves as inactive when started.

Of those who have joined so far, 65 per cent of registrations are women with the national ‘This Girl Can’ underlining the value of staying active.

Amber Valley workplaces to get involved include Somercotes’ Guilford Textiles, Ripley’s Amber Trust, Denby Depot, Ambergate Primary School and Amber Valley Borough Council. If you want to get your workplace involved as well visit: www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/activelunch for full details.