NHS England rolls out walking rewards scheme to tackle inactivity

NHS England will launch a new program that gives participants vouchers and other prizes for walking at least 30 minutes a day. Users can log their activity through smartphones or smartwatches, and the scheme aims to enrol more than 100,000 people. The initiative, funded by the NHS for its initial phase with hopes of attracting sponsors, is presented as a way to combat physical inactivity, which NHS data links to one in six deaths. Former Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, helped design the campaign and highlighted the role of “streak culture” in encouraging daily exercise. Full details of the rewards and eligibility will be released in the months before the scheme’s rollout next year.