Step into 2026: make movement your resolution

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Start the year with putting your health and wellbeing first by joining the 2026 Movement Challenge.

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As we step into 2026, we are encouraging residents to make a fresh start by embracing a more active lifestyle.

Whether it’s a walk through one of our award-winning parks, yoga in your community, a weekend parkrun or a swim in your local leisure centre, moving more is a great way to boost your health and wellbeing.

Research shows that being moderately active for just 22 minutes per day can help mitigate the negative effects of sitting down for too long. Moderate activity will raise your heart rate, make you breathe faster, and feel warmer. One way to tell if you're working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk but not sing.

Regular physical activity is proven to reduce stress, improve mental health, and help you feel more energised. Even small changes, like walking instead of driving short distances or taking the stairs instead of the lift, can make a big difference over time.

To inspire residents to get moving, we are launching the 2026 Movement Challenge. The goal? Commit to at least 22 minutes of moderate activity every day.

Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

“We want to encourage more people to get moving this year. That’s what this challenge is all about, inspiring people to take a step that we hope will help them build up positive habits for the whole year ahead.

“Through our ambitious Access for All scheme, which has over 9,500 members already, we are also making sure everyone has access to free or discounted opportunities to get active at our sports facilities across the borough.”

Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Health, added:

“Physical activity for at least 22 minutes per day not only makes you a more active person, but it also has proven health benefits. There are plenty of ways you can build this into your daily routine, so it feels more manageable.

“We want to encourage everyone to take part in this challenge and reap the benefits that come with moving more, every day.”

Join the 2026 Movement Challenge

Check out a list of ideas to get you started with the 2026 Movement Challenge below. You can also print out our 2026 Movement Challenge January calendar if you want to follow along with others in your community. We also have an activity finder to help you get active year-round wherever you are in the borough.

Check out the 2026 Movement Challenge January calendar

Walking in Wandsworth

Start the year by exploring the borough’s beautiful green spaces. Wandsworth is home to award-winning parks and riverside walks that are perfect for clearing your mind and getting active. Why not make your first walk of the year on New Year’s Day and listen to a Nature Trails podcast to find out a little more about these amazing green spaces.

Looking for company? Join one of the friendly community walking groups:

Why not try walking through our parks to one of our free, outdoor gyms? Or families can enjoy walking to any of our playgrounds across the borough, many being upgraded as part of our Year of Play.

Choose active travel to get about the borough by cycling or walking, instead of driving or public transport, where possible. Wandsworth even has many options for cycle hire, cargo bikes and family cycle rides across the borough – learn more about cycling in Wandsworth.

Attend a parkrun

Kick-start your weekends with a parkrun! We are proud to host one of the UK’s most popular parkruns in Battersea Park (which just had it’s 50,000th finisher), as well as the always-popular Tooting Common parkrun. These free, fun, and inclusive events are a great way to meet others and stay motivated. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or cheer – it’s up to you!

  • Battersea parkrun – Saturdays at 9am, Battersea Park
  • Tooting Common parkrun – Saturdays at 9am, Tooting Common
  • Battersea junior parkrun – Sundays at 9am, Battersea Park
  • Tooting Common junior parkrun – Sundays at 9am, Tooting Common

Make the most of free and affordable offers

There are plenty of free or affordable ways to move more and get active in Wandsworth.

Dive into the new year with these swimming offers

Add more movement into your daily life

Start small by finding easy ways to fit more activity into your daily life and build up from there. For example:

  • Stand rather than sit when you can on train or bus journeys, or try getting off the bus a stop or two early and walking the rest of the way
  • If you must drive somewhere, park a little further away than you need to - even the far end of the car park adds a little extra activity
  • Take the stairs instead of the lift or walk-up escalators when you get the chance
  • Get active at home using resistance bands
  • Did you know even hoovering your house for 22 minutes counts as being active?

We have a range of resources for how to introduce physical activity into your daily life. 

Investing in your health and wellbeing

In addition to encouraging residents to move more, we are investing in modernising our leisure centres, creating new play spaces, and expanding community programmes so everyone in Wandsworth can enjoy accessible, high-quality opportunities to get active. Read more about our investment with Places Leisure.