A series of fun challenges designed to get people in Sheffield doing more physical activity during July has been unveiled as part of the city’s first Move More Month.

Those who download the free Move More app will be able to sign up to a Steel City Move More Derby, which will see Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday supporters go head-to-head to see who has the most active fans.

Supporters of both clubs will be invited to ‘Move More for Goals’ by pledging their football allegiance via the Move More app or website and then using their active minutes to score goals for their chosen team.

The scores will be updated regularly during July and broadcast via social media. The winning club will be awarded the Steel City Move More Cup which will be presented at the first home game of the 2016/17 season.

The people of Sheffield are also being asked to set a bench mark for movement that will be used to challenge other cities in the UK next year and achieve a combined one million active minutes.

Business are also getting involved through the Move More ‘Go for Gold’ Workplace Challenge, delivered by the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) Sheffield partners, including the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Organisations compete within their own workforce as well as challenging colleagues from across the city.

The ‘Go for Gold’ challenge has an Olympic theme where participants are introduced to a new member of Team GB everyday of July and will be challenged to secure a Bronze, Silver or Gold medal for their athlete, their team and themselves by achieving 30 active minutes.

All movement will be recorded by the Move More app and the data will automatically be updated to the Workplace Challenge Dashboard. Participants choose whether or not to share their data with colleagues but every minute counts towards your team’s total.

The company with the most movement at the end of July will be awarded the title of Most Active Business in Sheffield.

Professor Robert Copeland, project manager for the NCSEM and Move More, said: “These challenges have been designed to make moving more fun.

“Helping people to become more active, whatever their age or ability, is probably the best thing people can do for their health and wellbeing. It’s proven that increased activity improves overall health and happiness and reduces absenteeism, and helps create a more productive workforce.

“It’s not about running a marathon, but making every minute count. Instead of taking the lift – take the stairs, instead of driving to the corner shop, walk instead. Every minute moving equates to one Move More Minute, which will contribute to your overall score.”

Move More Month, supported by Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, is aiming to get 50,000 Sheffield people recording their physical activity via an app or website in July in the run up to the Rio Olympics this summer.

Movements can be logged on smart phones by a new Move More app, which automatically tracks activity and clocks 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.

To encourage activity, Move More has put together a programme of activities and events throughout July for all ages and abilities.

The Move More app is now available to download on Google Play and the Apple Store.

For a full list of events, visit www.movemoresheffield.com