Shetland Islands Council’s Sport & Leisure service will be leading on the ‘Jump Start January’ challenge again in 2024, offering a free activity challenge to encourage folk to get active in January.
Individuals, groups, households and businesses are all invited to be active for at least 20 minutes a day for 28 days starting on Wednesday 3rd January and ending on Lerwick Up Helly Aa Day – Tuesday 30th January.
The original idea was created by an Active Shetland Strategy working group of staff from SIC Sport & Leisure, NHS Shetland, Ability Shetland, sportscotland and Shetland Recreational Trust.
The challenge in January 2023 was to undertake 15 minutes of activity each day and the working group wanted to encourage people to do a little bit more in 2024. People can do whatever physical activity they like – whether they choose to go out for a walk or jog, swim in their local pool, take part in a local fitness class or sport activity, or do some exercise from the comfort of their own living room.
There will be weekly prize draws for anyone submitting information on how they were active every day each week, as well as a bigger prize draw at the end of the challenge for participants who were active on all 28 days. One prize is a return trip from Shetland to Aberdeen for four people including a cabin, courtesy of Northlink Ferries.
One participant in the 2023 challenge said “It’s really given me the kick I needed to get on the exercise bandwagon. The habit is now there and I'm going to keep it up, I feel so much better.”
Louise Jamieson of the Council’s Sport & Leisure Service, said “New Year is a great time to think about improving health and lifestyle. Our challenge can include any type of physical activity – we don’t mind, as long as people are moving more than they usually do. We know that regular exercise and improved fitness can also benefit mental health in amazing ways. We hope that families and individuals, of all ages and abilities, will get involved and have some fun along the way. We are grateful to Northlink Ferries for their generous donation and support of the challenge.”
More information about the challenge as well as a range of helpful links about healthy lifestyles can be found at www.shetland.gov.uk/jumpstartjanuary
The Active Shetland Strategy 2018-23 (PDF 1.2Mb) contributes to the Shetland Partnership Plan 2018-2028.