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EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 16-22 SEPTEMBER 2016

Step Count Challenge FAQs1. What is it?

The ‘Let’s Go Lerwick! Step Count Challenge’ is funded by European Mobility Week, and is for teams of 5 participants who are employed by either SIC, NHS Shetland or Living Lerwick businesses. The challenge starts on Friday 16th September and lasts for 7 days with Thursday 22nd September being the final day.

2. How will it work?

Each participant will wear a pedometer wristband (given free to all participants subject to availability) to track the amount of steps they take every day for a period of 7 days. Daily step amounts will be submitted to a 'Team Captain' who will in turn forward this on to the Step Count Challenge Administrator.

3. Who is it for?

As European Mobility Week is focused on travel within towns and cities, the challenge is open to employees of NHS Shetland, SIC and Living Lerwick businesses who live and work in Lerwick and usually use their car to get to and from work. The challenge strives to encourage people to use their cars less often for travel, and to consider more sustainable and economical means such as walking, cycling or using public transport.

4. Can the team members be from different organisations?

No – all members of each team must be from the same organisation - either staff of SIC, NHS Shetland or Living Lerwick businesses. However, members of an SIC or NHS team for example, can be members of different SIC or NHS departments. Members of a Living Lerwick team can be from different businesses that are affiliated to Living Lerwick.

5. I don’t have a team of 5, can I still take part?

Yes. You can register individually and be assigned to a 'mystery team' (where possible) or you can select 1-4 friends to be part of the same team. If your team is less than five, we will try to make your team up to five with participants from the same organisation who have registered individually. This is subject to there being enough individually registered people to make complete teams.

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EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 16-22 SEPTEMBER 2016

6. How do I register?

There is a form you can fill in, or you can send an email to louise.johnson2@shetland.gov.uk to register yourself as an individual or your team. In the email please confirm which organisation (either SIC, NHS Shetland or Living Lerwick businesses) that you or your team-mates work for.

If you are registering a team, please confirm:- your team’s name - all individual members’ names- which member is Team Captain

If you are dropping off a paper registration form, please send or deliver it to either:

Christena Irvine – Living Lerwick office, Mounthooly Street Louise Johnson – SIC Active Schools, Hayfield HouseLauren Peterson – NHS Health Promotion, Grantfield House

****** REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MONDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER *******

7. Must I wear the free activity tracker I am given?

No – you can wear any activity tracker that you want to count your steps.

8. Do I need to walk with my team?

No. This is completely optional, you can choose to complete your steps in whichever way works best for you; on your own, with your department, with friends or family, or with your dog. You can of course choose to walk with your team if you prefer (or even members of other teams!) or go for a run or jog.

9. Why does cycling and using the bus to get to work count?

The Step Count Challenge is part of an initiative funded by European Mobility Week to promote and encourage more sustainable means of commuting within towns and cities as opposed to using your car. As cycling and using the bus are more sustainable and environmentally friendly means of transport, we are awarding some points for using these as alternatives to taking the car.

10. How many points will be awarded for using the bus to commute?

We will award 500 points/steps for each bus journey – provided this was for getting to or from the workplace ONLY. Any steps you have taken getting to and from the bus stop will also be included as part of your pedometer step count.

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EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 16-22 SEPTEMBER 2016

11. How many points will be awarded for cycling?

We will award 500 steps per mile cycled, or 300 per kilometre cycled. These points are only relevant for cycling to and from work, and between meetings.

12. How will I receive updates on team performances?

Team Captains should keep their teams updated. Team Captains should also send their team step counts to louise.johnson2@shetland.gov.uk – it would be appreciated if Team Captains could send an update of their team counts on Monday 19th September, and again after the 7-day challenge is complete. The Challenge Administrators will send an update on Monday 19th to let all Team Captains know how the various team performances are going at that point in the week.

13. What are the benefits of the Step Count Challenge?

Here are some statistics from a previous NHS Step Challenge which lasted a few weeks: Before the challenge the percentage of participants who described themselves as

physically active was 62%. A month after the survey that percentage was 79%

58% said it had been fun to take part 54% felt team spirit had been strengthened. 44% felt they had got fitter 25% felt it had relieved stress 17% had lost weight. Subject to availability, participants will receive a free activity tracker/pedometer

wristband.

14. What happens if I'm sick one day?

You can either record your average step count for the other days and use it for that day, or nominate an alternative person who lives and works in Lerwick to count their steps for that day on your behalf.

15. What happens if my pedometer runs out of charge or stops working one day?

Again you can record your average steps for the week and input that figure for a day that was missing. If your pedometer stops working we may be able to provide a replacement subject to availability.

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16. I went for a walk with my friends and they got a different step count – why?

We all have a different gait and step length, so the step count is bound to be vary from person to person. Different devices will record steps in different ways so there is bound to be some variation.

17. Can wearing a pedometer really make me fitter?

Yes. Pedometers have been shown to increase awareness and motivation regarding walking. Participants can expect to increase the amount they do – increased activity means lower blood pressure and decreased body mass index. Once you’ve found out your baseline, ie the amount of steps you do in a normal day, you can start to build up – you’ll soon find ways to do this, whether it be doing certain things on foot that you may have done in the car, adding short walks throughout your day during break times, or borrowing your neighbour’s dog!

18. How many steps are in a mile?

The average is around 2235 for one mile although everyone’s stride is different.

19. What’s the big deal about walking?

Walking has lots of benefits. Evidence shows walking can improve both physical and mental health in lots of ways. A physically active workforce has also been shown to take less sick days, be more productive and will also give staff morale a healthy boost.

Smart mobility. Strong economy.