A world-first physical activity programme has been launched in Sheffield aiming to get 50,000 people in the city on the move in the run up to the Rio Olympics this summer.

The inaugural Move More Month – an innovative project from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield – is bringing together more than 20 local organisations to invite the people of Sheffield to get active and to record their physical activity during July to see how many combined minutes the city can clock up.

It’s also being supported by Sheffield’s Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Movements can be logged on smart phones by a new and free Move More Sheffield app, which has been developed by a team of experts from both Sheffield’s Universities. 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’. It’s your very own free activity tracker!

The public can also see their movements on a Move More website, where Move More Minutes will be converted to points, which will mean you can earn trophies and virtual rewards as part of the project.

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 workplace challenges. The biggest challenge of all of course is helping to make Sheffield the most active city in the UK and setting a target that next we want to invite other cities to try and beat.

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

• Members Bring a friend for free at Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, Wisewood Leisure Centre and Thorncliffe Leisure Centre.
• Trail running session, Longshaw Estate
• Leisure swimming at Hillsborough Leisure Centre
• Badminton and table tennis sessions, Concord Sports Centre
• Community Rounders, Ruskin Park
• Try out Athletics at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield
• Ice skating session, iceSheffield
• Olympic Exercise Demonstration and Health Information Fayre, Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre

Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “Getting more people exercising by making physical activity fun is something I’m really passionate about so I’m very proud to be supporting Sheffield’s first ever Move More Month. It’s a great concept and a fantastic way of encouraging people to become fitter and healthier. As Team GB competes at the Olympic Games in Rio, I hope everybody will be inspired to get a little more active and get involved in Sheffield’s Move More Month.”  

Dr Ollie Hart, a GP at Sloan Medical Centre, in Heeley, and a key figures behind the project, said: He said: “This is an incredibly exciting project. Through Move More, we are trying to make Sheffield the most active city in the country by 2020 and the introduction of Move More Month to coincide with the Rio Olympics is a key step on that journey.

“By getting the public to understand how much or little activity they are doing, we hope to find new and interesting ways to keep all of us feeling good.

“We hope that in future years, this innovative project will be rolled out nationally and Sheffield will take on other parts of the country to find out which city really is the most active.”

A Steel City Move More Derby will be one of three headline Move More Challenges during July.

Professor Robert Copeland, project Manager for the NCSEM and Move More explained: “Fans of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday will be invited to ‘Move More for Goals’ by pledging their football allegiance via the app or website and then using their active minutes to score goals for their chosen team. The scores will be constantly updated and broadcast across the city via social media. It will be great to find out in July whether it will be the Blades or the Owls supporters who clock up the most minutes.”.

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.

Mark Todd, Head of Community at Sheffield United Community Foundation, said: “As Head of the Sheffield United Community Foundation and having the privilege of playing for the Blades, I am delighted that we are able to support the Move More campaign.

“We are committed through our various community programmes to encourage our fans and the people of Sheffield to move more and, in doing so, share the benefits that are derived from an active and healthy lifestyle. We urge everyone to engage with Move More, at whatever level, and start their journey with us to making Sheffield the most active city in the UK!”

Sheffield Wednesday striker Fernando Forestieri said: “We want as many Sheffield Wednesday fans to get involved in the Move More campaign and take part in fitness challenges. It’s a good way to get fit and if you take part we could win the Move More Cup! Well done to everyone taking part!”

Workplaces across Sheffield can also engage in the Move More Month via a specifically designed ‘Road to Rio’ workplace challenge that will encourage organisations to get active and win medals for their team, and watch their team climb the leaderboard.

Richard Wright, executive director, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the organisations supporting Move More Month, said: “Sheffield is becoming a national centre of expertise in the wellness agenda. If employers help and encourage their workforce to be less sedentary and more active they will get a real return on their investment. A healthy workforce has less absenteeism, is more productive and better motivated. The Chamber is 100% behind this initiative and would encourage every business to engage.”

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

For Move More Minutes, go to your points via the website, visit movemoresheffield.com.