Experts design app to revolutionise wellbeing in Sheffield

28th June 2016

Sports scientists and psychologists from Sheffield Hallam University have co-designed a mobile phone app to encourage people living in Sheffield to 'Move More' as part of a world-first physical activity programme.

Move More Month - an innovative project from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) in Sheffield - starts on Friday 1 July and aims to get 50,000 people in the city on the move in the run up to the Rio Olympics this summer. The free, easy to use Move More Sheffield app, designed by experts from the University's Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, the Centre for Sports Engineering Research and University of Sheffield's Department of Computer Science, allows users to log their movements on their smart phones and will automatically track activity and clock up Move More Minutes, for each minute of activity. Participants of the Move More Month challenge can set targets, view a programme of activities and join Move More competitions such as 'the steel city derby' - a contest between fans of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday football clubs to see which team is the most physically active. Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will be competing against each other in one of the many workplace challenges that are taking place in organisations across the city. The project will help Sheffield become the most active city in the UK by 2020 and it is hoped next year, Move More Month will evolve to invite other cities across the country to take part in the challenge. Professor Rob Copeland, Sheffield Hallam's expert in physical activity and project lead for the NCSEM and Move More, said: "We want Sheffield to be known as the most active city in the UK. We're trying to change the culture of the city and help to make it easier for people to access activities or facilities. "People don't have to go to the gym, run or cycle in order to clock up Move More Minutes, they can simply go for a walk, take the stairs or even burst into a set of star jumps when they're at their desks. It's all about getting people moving more and having fun with it and they can compete against their family, friends or colleagues to make it that bit more challenging. "We want to make it easier for people to become more physically active as part of everyday life and this is one big step towards revolutionising health and wellbeing in Sheffield." The Move More app is now available to download on Google Play and the Apple Store. To access individual Move More Minutes visit the website www.movemoresheffield.com