Make movement your 2025 resolution
New campaign from Wandsworth council encouraging residents to get active
As we step into 2025, Wandsworth Council is encouraging residents to make a fresh start by embracing a more active lifestyle.
Whether it’s a walk through one of the borough’s award-winning parks, yoga in your community, a weekend parkrun or a swim in your local leisure centre, moving more is a great way to boost your health and wellbeing.
Research shows that being moderately active for just 22 minutes per day can help mitigate the negative effects of sitting down for too long.
Moderate activity will raise your heart rate, and make you breathe faster and feel warmer. One way to tell if you're working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk, but not sing.
Regular physical activity is proven to reduce stress, improve mental health, and help you feel more energised. Even small changes, like walking instead of driving short distances or taking the stairs instead of the lift, can make a big difference over time.
To inspire residents to get moving, Wandsworth Council is launching the 2025 Movement Challenge. The goal? Commit to at least 22 minutes of moderate activity every day.
Councillor Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We want to encourage more people to get moving this year. That’s what this challenge is all about – inspiring people to take a step that we hope will help them build up positive habits for the whole year ahead.
“Through our ambitious Access for All scheme which has attracted over 50,000 bookings already, we are also making sure everyone has access to free or discounted opportunities to get active in our leisure centres. Along with initiatives such as the new parkrun we brought to Battersea Park, it is easier than ever to make 2025 your year for movement.”
Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Health, added: “Exercising for at least 22 minutes per day would make you a more active person, and there are plenty of ways you can build this into your daily routine so it feels more manageable.
“We want to encourage everyone to take part in this challenge and reap the benefits that come with moving more every day.”
Check out a list of ideas to get you started with the 2025 Movement Challenge below. You can also print out our 2025 Movement Challenge January calendar if you want to follow along with others in your community.
Find more tips for how to get active at home.
Share your progress with the 2025 Movement Challenge on social media using the hashtag #2025MovementChallenge
Free gym and swim for eligible residents
Eligible residents can benefit from free gym and swim offers in the borough’s leisure centres.
- All Wandsworth children under the age of eight can swim for free
- For under 18s, use of the junior gym is available for children on free school meals, as well as access to adult off-peak sessions, if accompanied by an adult or peak casual gym access is available for £2.50
- Adults in our Access for All groups can swim or use the gym for free during off-peak hours (before 5.30pm on weekdays and all day at weekends) or for just £5 during peak hours
- Children in our Access for All groups can swim for free at all times
- Students can swim or use the gym for just £5 or get an all-inclusive membership for £21.50 per month for all sites and facilities
- We are offering free swimming lessons for Wandsworth children during the school holidays from February 2025. Children in school years 2 to 7 are eligible, who are currently unable to swim for 25 metres. Learn more and book your place:
Walking in Wandsworth
People travel from all across London to visit Wandsworth’s award-winning parks, so make the most of having them on your doorstep. You can head out with your family on New Year’s Day or go alone and listen to a Nature Trails podcast to find out a little more about these amazing green spaces. There are also plenty of community walking groups you could join, such as:
o Walk and Talk Movement, Tooting Common, every Saturday at 10.30am
o Walk & Talk Wellness, Roehampton Library, every Thursday at 11am (includes free refreshments at the end!)
Attend a parkrun
Wandsworth is proud to play host to parkrun, a free, fun, and friendly collection of 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) events for runners, walkers and volunteers which takes place every Saturday, and junior parkrun which is a shorter 2-kilometre run every Sunday, in two of the borough’s fantastic parks. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or cheer – it's up to you!
o Battersea parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am in Battersea Park
o Tooting Common parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am in Tooting Common
o Battersea junior parkrun takes place every Sunday at 9am in Battersea Park
o Tooting Common junior parkrun takes place every Sunday at 9am in Tooting Common
Free or affordable opportunities
There are plenty of free or affordable ways to move more and get active in Wandsworth. This can be a great way to try something new and meet others in your community.
o Try a free yoga class in Northcote Library, every Monday at 12noon
o Free tennis equipment and courts are available at King George’s Park, Wandsworth Common and Tooting Common for eligible adults from 1-3pm and under-18s from 3-5pm on weekdays (courts are subject to availability)
o Free padel equipment and courts are available at King George’s Park for eligible adults from 1-3pm and under-18s from 3-5pm year-round, including school holidays (courts are subject to availability)
o Local people can access half-price gym membership for your first three months with the code 3XHALF at several of the borough’s leisure centres
o Try an affordable fitness class with Active Lifestyles
Incorporate moderate exercise in your daily routine
Start small by finding easy ways to fit more activity into your daily life and build up from there. For example:
o Stand rather than sit when you can on train or bus journeys, or try getting off the bus a stop or two early and walking the rest of the way
o If you must drive somewhere, park a little further away than you need to - even the far end of the car park adds a little extra activity
o Take the stairs instead of the lift or walk-up escalators when you get the chance
o Get active at home using resistance bands
o Did you know even hoovering your house for 22 minutes counts as being active?
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