Over 8 million minutes of movement recorded as Stockport stepped up to the challenge

By Life Leisure | 24 November 2025 | TAGS: Leisure, Stockport, "gym", "lifeleisure", Mental health

Over 8 million minutes of movement recorded as Stockport stepped up to the challenge this September

Stockport moved like never before with the help of Life Leisure’s Move Stockport campaign. The challenge to complete 30 minutes of exercise every day encouraged thousands of people across the Borough to get active and see what a difference it could make to their lives.

The campaign reached far and wide, inspiring families, schools, workplaces and locals to prioritise their wellbeing through physical activity, and the results are in.

8 million minutes of movement

It’s estimated that the total ‘minutes of movement’ recorded across Stockport this September increased from 7.418 million to 8.256 million! That’s an 11% increase, or an impressive extra 838,000 minutes.

That’s the equivalent of residents in Stockport completing almost 14,000 extra hours of exercise this September, or 465 more hours of movement every single day; a clear sign that the Borough is embracing movement and recognising the long list of benefits it can have on your quality of life.

More than 3,000 people from the local community took part in Move Stockport activities during the month, from outdoor events and school challenges to community exercise classes, showing the power of collaboration in creating a more active, connected Stockport.

Inspiring movement

Throughout September, Life Leisure’s teams worked closely with schools, local businesses, community partners, the council and public health to help people find fun, accessible ways to get active. Highlights included:

• H1VE Fest – a celebration of fitness and community at Life Leisure Stockport Sports Villages' unique H1VE group training studio. The event featured four H1VE classes, including their official HYROX training club session, all to upbeat festival tracks.
• Outdoor Yoga – free Yoga classes were held at Life Leisure Hazel Grove, and thankfully, the rain held off! Yoga is a great way to relax and unwind, but often underestimated. This was a great opportunity to allow Stockport to give it a try.
• Playdays with Decathlon – we were pleased to attend the very successful Decathlon Playday event at Woodbank Park, hosting fun, active, family-friendly sessions designed to get children and parents moving together. The weather wasn’t as kind to us this day, but it was still great fun!
• 30-Day challenge – our healthy habit creation challenge was also shared with local schools, encouraging children to move daily in different ways while learning about the benefits of staying active.
• National Fitness Day at Stockroom – a full day of free activities for all ages, right from babies to older adults, in the heart of Stockport, proving that movement is for everyone.
• Body Combatathon event – 5 hours back-to-back of the popular Les Mills Body Combat class at Life Leisure Houldsworth Village. Participants and instructors worked together to raise an incredible £1,100 for mental health charity Mind.

There were over 15 free sessions to get involved with over the month, providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to get moving, try something new, and build healthy habits.

From 8 months to 80 years, Stockport proves movement is for everyone

“National Fitness Day is always a big one for us, but this year we wanted to do even more, especially as it complements our ‘Move Stockport’ campaign so well.” said Michelle Childs, Head of Health and Communities at Life Leisure. “From the youngest members of our community to the oldest, people were moving, smiling, and discovering how fun and accessible exercise can be. Every move really does count, and we guarantee you’ll feel stronger and healthier for doing it.”

Michelle also added, “Seeing all those people of all ages moving together was incredible. It’s proof that you don’t need to be in the gym 7 days a week to make a positive change. Just half an hour of movement a day is enough to feel healthier, happier, and more connected to your community.”

The Move Stockport campaign formed part of Life Leisure’s ongoing mission to improve the lives of others, focusing on removing barriers to activity and helping people discover ways to move that suit their lifestyle.

We’re not done yet. Watch this space.

Discover what’s on near you: www.lifeleisure.net

Life Leisure

Life Leisure is a Community Interest Company (CIC) wholly owned by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and work to ensure all Stockport residents can access affordable provision within our community.

We believe that physical activity can enhance the health and wellbeing of communities, and work to positively impact the mental, social and physical good health of local people.

Our Purpose is simple: “We exist to improve the lives of others”. This drives everything we do at work and is as relevant for our workforce as it is for our customers. Our mission is “To develop a healthier and more active community”.

We enshrine all of this into our strap-line “Live well, live life”.