Hundreds of Derbyshire workers get active

Hundreds of workers across Derbyshire played a part in this year’s Workplace Health Week, which provided inspiration and opportunities for employees to become more active at work.

The initiative, which is now in its second year, is run by Workplace Challenge in collaboration with Derbyshire Sport and other County Sports Partnerships across England.

Despite a government target that all adults should exercise for 150 minutes each week, nationally 40 per cent of us do not exercise enough and time is listed as the biggest barrier to physical activity.

This was the driver behind a week-long schedule of activities, support, tips and advice for local businesses, focusing on flexible working and active lunch breaks to bring physical activity into and around the working day.

Chesterfield Borough Council and The Post Office were among the organisations in Chesterfield which got involved in Workplace Health Week, and the highlight of the week was the Midday Mile, which saw workers ditch their desks to run, walk, jog or cycle one mile at 12noon on Thursday 26 May.

Workers from the Post Office No1 Future Walk team in Chesterfield also took part in lunchtime activities such as table tennis and rounders.

Participants have been logging their activity on the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge website; an online activity log challenge which allows colleagues to track how much sport and activity they are doing, and work together to earn activity points and work their way up an online leaderboard.

Now organisers are urging businesses to deliver their promise and continue giving their employees the encouragement and opportunity to keep active.

Rachael Dyer, Sport Development Officer and lead for the Workplace Challenge at Derbyshire Sport, said: “It’s been fantastic to see organisations from across Derbyshire get involved with Workplace Health Week 2016. It’s hugely encouraging to see so many employers take up the challenge and the important thing now is to keep up the momentum.

“Not enough people in Derbyshire achieve the target of 150 minutes of exercise each week and we want local businesses to help their employees do this.

“Giving workers the flexibility to bring physical activity into and around the workplace, including during their lunch break, will reap rewards not just for the wellbeing of employees, but for the business too by reducing absence.”

For more details, including information about how your business can get involved with Workplace Challenge and seek to introduce physical activity into and around the working day, search online for Derbyshire Workplace Challenge.