Helping us live longer, happier lives.
Getting active regularly doesn’t just improve overall health and fitness, it improves all areas of our health and wellbeing.
Being active means we have a better chance of living for longer and spending more years of our lives in good health.
Regular activity also improves mental as well as physical health, boosts self esteem and confidence, and even help us to build and maintain healthy relationships.
Improving mental & physical health
Physical health
Being active can lower your chance of:
🦵Hip fractures by more than half
🩸Type 2 diabetes by up to 40%
🫀Heart disease by up to 35%
🧠 Dementia by up to 30%
🎗️Some types of cancer by up to 30%
It’s also proven to:
✅ Help manage weight
✅ Delay the start and progression of long term health conditions
✅ Help manage chronic illnesses
Mental health
Being active can lower your chance of:
😔 Depression by up to 30%.
People who are active are 1.4 times less likely to become depressed than people who aren’t.
Physical activity is also proven to:
✅ Reduce anxiety and stress
✅ Improve confidence & self esteem
✅ Help maintain healthy relationships
✅ Improve sleep and boost energy
✅ Improve mental health straight away and over time
Getting active regularly reduces the risk of dying early by up to 30%
What are the benefits at different life stages?
Being active helps school age kids (age 5-18) to:
- 🧠 Do better in school – It boosts concentration, memory, and mood.
- 😀 Feel happier – Exercise helps the brain release “feel-good” chemicals.
- 💪 Build strong muscles and bones – Great for growing bodies!
- 😴 Sleep better – Helps kids feel more rested and ready to learn.
- 🤝 Make friends – Team sports and clubs are great for meeting people.
- 🏃♂️ Stay at a healthy weight – Helps kids feel confident and energetic.
Many schools and community centres in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent offer after-school sports and dance clubs—ask what’s on!
Being active can look different for everyone. Even gentle movement has real benefits:
- ❤️ Improves heart and lung health – Even seated exercises help circulation.
- 🤸 Supports balance and flexibility – Reduces the risk of falls and injury.
- 😊 Boosts mood and reduces anxiety – Movement can lift your spirits.
- 🧍♂️ Helps with independence – Keeps muscles working and joints flexible.
- 😴 Improves sleep – Deepens sleep and improves brain function.
- 👥 Builds community – Activities like seated yoga or walking groups are great places to connect.
Groups like Stronger My Way and local leisure centres offer adapted fitness classes in Stoke-on-Trent and across Staffordshire.
You don’t need to spend hours at the gym—short bursts of activity add up!
- ⚡ Boosts energy – Even a 10-minute walk can wake you up and refresh your brain.
- 📉 Reduces stress – Helps clear your mind and manage a busy schedule.
- 🏃♀️ Quick and easy options – Walking meetings, stair-climbing, or home workouts.
- 💓 Improves long-term health – Supports your heart, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens your immune system.
- 🛌 Better sleep, sharper focus – Even light activity can improve your rest and productivity, as well as improve your relationships.
Try a 10-minute walk on your lunch break or download an app like Active 10 from the NHS, designed for busy people.
There’s something for everyone
We’re all unique and it’s not always easy to fit regular activity into your routine. You might have a tight budget, be short on time, or managing multiple health conditions. But there are simple, low cost ways to fit more activity into your schedule.
Getting active regularly is linked to living for longer and is already improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
“While I find it difficult to stay motivated sometimes, my mood and physical wellbeing improves with activity.”
– Community member, Lichfield