Time for a new challenge to help stay active and boost wellbeing

Published: 5 January 2022

The New Year is upon us and it’s a time when many people are thinking about starting a new challenge to stay fit and active.

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure and Physical Activity, thought the same thing – and decided to take the challenge to a whole new level.

He has agreed to take part in 12 Moves in 12 Months – a special year-long challenge to try a new activity every month to celebrate some of the amazing community groups and organisations supporting people to be more active in their daily lives.

Cllr Wood will spend time each week in a group or class to try new activities for himself as a way of staying healthy and active while having fun and making some new friends along the way.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in some of the activities people might want to try in their own communities.

“Activities we are considering throughout the year include things like yoga, Nordic walking, cycling, bowls – in fact anything which enables people to stay active while enjoying new challenges. Like many I would like to be a bit fitter and lose a bit of weight, especially after Christmas. My main exercise at the moment is walking the dog but I am ready for the challenge – I suppose I will soon find out!”

He added:  “We know that small changes that we enjoy and can keep up regularly are the key to greater wellbeing, so checking out what’s going on near you is a good place to start and it’s a very achievable New Year’s resolution.”

The first 12 Moves in 12 Months Challenge starts this week in Pinhoe, so watch out next week for the first video of Cllr Wood stepping out of his comfort zone to celebrate our local activity providers and community groups.

You can follow the 12 Moves in 12 Months series on the Live & Move blog page, on the City Council’s news website and on social media.