Success of Beat the Street 2015 in Numbers
With the countdown to the eagerly anticipated 2016 Beat the Street underway, attention is now turning to the results from last year’s competition and the impact it has had on activity in the borough.
Over 60,000 more miles were walked during Beat the Street 2015 compared with the year before, with nearly 9,000 more people taking part in the competition. Impressively, eight out of ten people who took part thought Beat the Street helped them to be more active and healthy.
A presentation on Friday 18th March at the Health and Wellbeing Board will highlight headline feedback on the 2015 Beat the Street Project.
The 2015 project focussed on engaging people who had long term conditions and who had low levels of physical activity. Headline 2015 Beat the Street figures include:
- 306,640 miles were walked (244,537 in 2014)
- 23,992 people took part – 11 per cent of the population (compared to 15,074 in 2014)
- 10,831 children participated (8,416 in 2014)
- 12 per cent of participants had a long term condition such as COPD, arthritis or diabetes.
It is hoped the 2016 participation numbers will exceed last year’s impressive results. Progress, analysis and evaluation of the 2016 Beat the Street will take place at the start and end of the live project with follow ups after six and 12 months.
Beat the Street is commissioned by Reading Borough Council and North & West and South Reading CCGs to increase physical activity levels amongst the local population. It uses technology developed by Reading-based health IT company, Intelligent Health.
Reading’s Lead Councillor for Health, Graeme Hoskin, said: “I’m extremely satisfied by the excellent results that have emerged from last year’s Beat the Street, which proved extremely popular with residents of all ages, and I hope this year’s competition will continue to build on this success.
“Regular physical activity is known to improve many long-term conditions. Taking exercise also helps improve the health of those who already have these conditions. As a council we’re committed to supporting residents get more active. The council faces very tough times at the moment but helping residents stay healthy and fit means not only a better life for them but also helps to reduce the demand for other services.”
Dr Rupert Woolley, lead GP for the project on behalf of the Reading Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) said: “The Beat the Street programme has gone from strength to strength in recent years and these excellent results are testament to everyone who took part. I’m particularly pleased with the numbers of people taking part, including those with long term conditions. We know that by making exercise a part of a normal day and making it as fun as possible we can look forward to building on these results to encourage even more people to play.
“Walking just half an hour a day, five-days-a-week has major health benefits and can reduce the risk of developing certain illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancers, dementia, depression and anxiety. Taking exercise also helps improve the health of those who already have these illnesses.”
Doctor Rupert Woolley extolling the virtues of regular exercise:
