Step into a healthier workplace this Autumn

Paths for All have launched their autumn Step Count Challenge, which begins on Monday 30 October.

For four weeks, teams of five from workplaces across Scotland will make a change by walking more, tracking and recording their daily step count, and taking part in weekly challenges with the chance to win prizes.

Using their own pedometers, mobile apps and fitness trackers, participants enter in teams of five and record their steps whilst increasing their activity levels by walking to work, going for a lunchtime stroll, and using the stairs rather than the lift. Everyone taking part records their daily steps on an online user account, where they can also share comments with their team and track the team's progress on a leader board.  

Paths for All has been running the challenge for five years, and over this time more than eight and a half billion steps, equal to almost four million miles, have been recorded. During this year’s spring challenge, over 963 teams, consisting of 4,663 participants, took part.

People who took part in the spring challenge commented that "It was great fun, got me away from my desk every lunch time!" and "It was extremely enjoyable, and was a great initiative that helped bond our team together".

The outcome is the challenge makes a difference to people’s health. The University of Edinburgh carried out research into participants’ physical activity levels before and after the challenge. They found that those taking part walked over one and half hours more and sat for six hours less each week.

You can register now and purchase pedometers for your workplace at http://www.stepcount.org.uk/

If you have any enquiries please contact walkatwork@pathsforall.org.uk.