An innovative physical activity game that has engaged more than a million people has launched in Calderdale.
The Beat the Street game is taking place in north Halifax from Wednesday 5 March to Wednesday 2 April 2025, hosted by Active Calderdale and funded by a National Lottery grant from Sport England.
Beat the Street encourages people to get outside and to get active and is open to anyone of any age. The game works by turning the area into a real-life game and residents will see special sensors called Beat Boxes on lampposts around the area.
Active Calderdale, one of Sport England’s Place Partners which focuses on a place-based approach to tackling inequalities in physical activity, officially launched the game on Thursday 6 March, with activities for local people and schoolchildren at Beechwood Road Library in Illingworth and the new library at Mixenden Community Hub.
Players of the game join a school or community team, or they can set up their own team with a minimum of six players. Players then walk, cycle or wheel between the 36 Beat Boxes which are spaced half a mile apart. The further players travel, the more points they score.
Prior to the game, primary school pupils from participating schools will be provided with cards to hover over the Beat Boxes, while parents and teachers will also receive a card from the school so they can accompany children.
The wider community can pick up a free contactless card from a distribution point listed at www.beatthestreet.me(external link). Alternatively, players aged 13+ can choose to participate through a mobile app, which can be downloaded via Google Play or iOS App Store.
Beat the Street was created by GP Dr William Bird MBE, an expert in physical activity and the founder of Intelligent Health. Beat the Street has not only had a significant impact on increasing levels of physical activity amongst adults and children, but also helps reduce congestion and improve air quality, and helps families spend time in green spaces together.
Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:
“We are excited to bring Beat the Street to north Halifax. We know that one of the best things people can do for their physical and mental health is to move more and get out into green spaces where possible. Beat the Street helps people do that in a fun and engaging way, whilst exploring their local area.
“This is what our Active Calderdale movement is all about – encouraging people to make physical activity a part of their day-to-day lives in whatever way they choose, to reduce inactivity and inequalities, for healthier and happier lives. It also supports our Council priorities for thriving towns and places and action to tackle climate change.”
It is free to take part in Beat the Street and it’s an inclusive game that is open to everyone regardless of age, ability or background.
According to research, one in four people in England does less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, which classes them as inactive. Four out of five primary school children do not get the recommended amount of daily exercise of 60 minutes a day.
The National Lottery funding from Sport England will not only help people in north Halifax to get active, but will also leave a positive legacy to improve the community’s health and wellbeing. This will build on the great work that Active Calderdale is already doing in north Halifax and across the borough to help people move more.
For more information about Beat the Street, head to https://beatthestreet.me/northhalifax(external link) and follow Active Calderdale on Facebook.
To find out more about Active Calderdale, visit https://active.calderdale.gov.uk(external link)