The inaugural Move More Month kicks off this Friday, 1 July, with a range of free and discounted activities designed to encourage the people of Sheffield to get active and record their physical activity.
 
Movements can be logged on smart phones by a free Move More Sheffield app. Once downloaded, the app will automatically track activity and clock up users’ Move More Minutes, for each minute of activity. There is no need to press start and stop, just carry your phone and ‘move more’.
 
The public can also see their movements on a Move More website, where Move More Minutes will be converted to points.
 
Free activities taking place to celebrate the launch on Friday 1 July include a Members Bring a Friend Friday for free at Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, Wisewood Leisure Centre and Thorncliffe Leisure Centre, Abs Workout at Concord Sports Centre and spinning at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield.
 
There are more than 160 events running throughout Move More Month – an innovative project from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield supported by over 20 local organisations.
 
It also has the backing of Sheffield’s Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill.
 
The app and website will allow users to achieve targets, view a timeline of activities and join Move More competitions such as the Steel City Derby and Go for Gold Workplace Challenges.
 
Dr Ollie Hart, a GP at Sloan Medical Centre, in Heeley, and a key figure behind the project, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the interest in Move More Month from individuals and organisations across Sheffield signing up for the free app and challenges.
 
“Through Move More Month, we want to find out how many combined minutes the city can clock up. Our aim is to help to make Sheffield the most active city in the UK and set a target for other cities to try and beat next year!
 
“The world we all live in doesn’t make being physically active very easy. In fact, it’s easier to move less than it is to move more! We’re trying to change this and, with more than 160 free or discounted activities in Sheffield during July, there’s something for everyone.”
 
The Move More app is available to download on Google Play and the Apple Store.
 
For more information visit movemoresheffield.com.