Beat the Street helped improve Swindon's fitness - and it's coming back

A new report by Intelligent Health surveyed many of the 25,000 people who took part before and after they helped to cover more than 252,000 miles when the six-week initiative returned to town in 2019.

Results show there was a decrease in the number of adults reporting less than 30 minutes of activity per week after Beat The Street ended, with nearly one in 10 doing more.

There was an increase in the number of adults reporting that they are doing the government’s guideline of 150 or more minutes of activity per week with nearly three in 20 people doing more.

Coun Brian Ford added: “We’re delighted at the findings in this report and to see the legacy left by Beat the Street. The scheme really was the talk of the town and continues to encourage local residents to get more active and improve the health and wellbeing for everyone across the borough.”

To celebrate this success, Beat the Street Swindon is back for one day with a street orienteering event taking place on Saturday February 1 at the Link Centre from 10.30am to 1.30pm, with registrations open from 10.30am-12pm.

Intelligent Healthdelivers the initiative with funding from Sport England, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire and Swindon Sport Partnership.

The player who travelled the furthest in 2018 beat his record in 2019 by running, walking and cycling more than 2,500 miles.

Passionate parkrunner Greg Wells clocked an amazing tally of 80,000 points, three times more than he achieved in 2018.

He has travelled further than anyone else who has played Beat the Street in the UK and beyond, and is scoring higher than many team totals.

Greg said: “I loved Beat the Street– I like a physical challenge and I did go around other areas of Swindon and discovered new parts of the town I didn’t know. Anything that gets people off the sofa, perhaps people who don’t normally do exercise, is great and it was good to see people getting out there and being active with their children.”