Embrace Motion: Your Transformative Commitment for 2025

Whether it’s a stroll through one of the borough’s award-winning green spaces, yoga in your community, a weekend parkrun, or a swim in your nearby leisure centre, increasing your movement is an excellent method to enhance your health and wellbeing.

Studies indicate that being moderately active for merely 22 minutes each day can help alleviate the detrimental impacts of prolonged sitting.

Moderate activity will elevate your heart rate, increase your breathing rate, and make you feel warmer. A simple way to assess if you’re operating at a moderate intensity is if you can still maintain a conversation, but singing is out of the question.

Consistent physical activity has been shown to decrease stress, enhance mental health, and provide you with more vitality. Even minor adjustments, like walking instead of driving short distances or opting for the stairs over the elevator, can significantly impact over time.

To motivate residents to become more active, we are introducing the 2025 Movement Challenge. The objective? Commit to engaging in at least 22 minutes of moderate activity daily.

Councillor Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Environment, remarked: “We aim to inspire more individuals to get moving this year. This challenge is all about motivating people to take steps that we hope will lead to the establishment of positive habits throughout the entire upcoming year.

“Through our ambitious Access for All initiative, which has already attracted over 50,000 reservations, we are also ensuring that everyone has access to free or discounted opportunities to become active within our leisure centres. Coupled with initiatives such as the new parkrun introduced to Battersea Park, it has never been easier to make 2025 your year for movement.”

Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Health, added: “Participating in exercise for at least 22 minutes daily would render you a more active individual, and there are numerous ways to incorporate this into your routine so that it feels achievable.

“We hope to motivate everyone to engage in this challenge and enjoy the advantages that accompany increased daily movement.”

Explore a list of suggestions to begin your journey with the 2025 Movement Challenge below.

Walking in Wandsworth

Individuals journey from various parts of London to explore Wandsworth’s esteemed parks, so take full advantage of having them close by. You can venture out with your family on New Year’s Day or go solo and listen to a Nature Trails podcast to learn more about these incredible green areas. Additionally, there are many community walking groups you could join, such as:

Participate in a parkrun

Wandsworth proudly hosts parkrun, a complimentary, enjoyable, and welcoming series of 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) events for runners, walkers, and volunteers, occurring every Saturday, alongside junior parkrun—a shorter 2-kilometre run held every Sunday—in two of the borough’s amazing parks. Whether you choose to walk, jog, run, volunteer, or cheer—it’s your choice!

Complimentary or budget-friendly opportunities to get active or increase movement

Numerous free or affordable options exist to promote more movement and activity in Wandsworth. This can be a fantastic way to explore something new and connect with others in your community.

Free gym and swim access for qualified residents

Qualified residents can take advantage of complimentary gym and swim programs in the borough’s leisure centres.

• All Wandsworth children under the age of eight are entitled to swim free of charge
• For under 18s, access to the junior gym is available for children receiving free school meals, as well as permission for them to attend adult off-peak sessions if accompanied by an adult. Peak casual gym access is available for just £2.50
• Adults in our Access for All groups may swim or utilize the gym for free during off-peak times (before 5.30 pm on weekdays and throughout the day on weekends) or for only £5 during peak hours
• Children in our Access for All groups can swim for free at any time
• Students are offered swimming or gym access for only £5, or an all-inclusive membership for £21.50 per month encompassing all sites and facilities
• We are providing free swimming lessons for Wandsworth children during school holidays starting February 2025. Eligibility is extended to children in school years 2 to 7 who cannot currently swim 25 metres. Discover more and secure your spot:

Integrate moderate exercise, physical activity, or movement into your everyday routine

Begin modestly by identifying simple ways to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, then gradually intensify your efforts. For instance:

• Stand instead of sitting whenever possible during train or bus journeys, or consider disembarking the bus a stop or two early and walking the remainder
• If you need to drive, park a bit further away than necessary—even the far end of the parking lot contributes some additional activity
• Opt for the stairs rather than the elevator, or walk up escalators whenever you have the opportunity
• Engage in home activities using resistance bands
• Did you realize that vacuuming your home for 22 minutes also counts as physical activity?

Find additional tips for getting active at home.

Share your achievements related to the 2025 Movement Challenge on social media using the hashtag #2025MovementChallenge