Beat the Street is back!

Thousands of families in parts of Blaby District will have the chance to walk, run and cycle to rack up points as the popular Beat the Street game returns.

Beat the Street is a free, fun challenge encouraging residents to get active around their local area, all whilst being rewarded with points and prizes the further they travel.

Launching on Wednesday 04 May, the four-week programme runs until Wednesday 01 June across Braunstone Town, Enderby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Lubbesthorpe and Leicester Forest East.

33 ‘beat boxes’ will be placed across these areas on lamp posts for players to tap their cards on to track their journey and earn points.

This year’s game is using grant funding allocated to tackle air quality specifically in Glenfield and Enderby, and beat boxes have also been placed in villages surrounding these two areas. Residents and schools of all parishes are welcome to explore these villages and take part in the game.

Players can also follow Active Blaby at @ActiveBlaby across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as they provide updates on themes, prizes and the leader board. Participants will soon be able to register and track their progress on the Beat the Street website.

Primary schools in the game’s areas will be sent cards and maps for all pupils to give them the chance to take part, with prizes on offer for the highest-ranking schools.

Residents and community groups can also sign up and get their cards from distribution points. Prizes will also be available for the best performing individual and community group.

There will be a new theme every week for players, and a whole host of special bonus points and prizes. In 2019, 11,000 residents managed to walk, cycle and scoot over 93,000 miles. The 2020 edition for Blaby District was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Sharon Coe, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Business Support, said: “Beat the Street has been so popular in previous years with families and residents. We couldn’t be more excited to see everyone get involved and compete to win the fantastic prizes on offer.

“It’s completely free to play and is a great opportunity to go outdoors, spend time with your friends and family, and help to improve air quality in the district.”

Beat the Street is run by the Active Blaby Team at Blaby District Council, supported by Active Together, funded by the National Lottery via Sport England and DEFRA, and managed by Intelligent Health.