Participating in the Challenge for Change can lead to increased community engagement, support for meaningful causes, and enhanced motivation and collaboration within the organization. It's a great way to promote physical activity, foster a sense of unity, and make a positive impact on the community. 🌟
You can take part in Challenge for Change as an individual, but it's much more fun, and you'll go much further if you take part with your club, school/college, or workplace.
Find out more at ChallengeForChange.org.uk or read on to get 7 tips each for clubs, schools, and workplaces, and let us know your ideas to boost participation in the comments below...
🏋️♂️ Gyms & Health Clubs: 7 Tips to Prepare for Challenge for Change this September
- Consider the Challenge Format and Participants
Challenge for Change involves collecting distance travelled (run, walk, wheel, swim), from all your members… and staff… and friends of members… and friends of staff… and prospects, leads, etc.
How will you get as many people as possible involved and logging their distances.
Discuss with staff and members for innovative ideas, out of the box thinking, and fun formats.
Set targets for distance and money raised. - Choose Your Charity to Support
Pick a local children’s charity that means a lot to you and/or your participants. Get in touch and tell them you are doing the challenge for them! - Start Signing People up to the Challenge NOW
Start with club staff (everyone, not just fitness staff, but management, admin, casuals), and then members and all other contacts from your database, socials, etc.
What does commitment look like (a list, a form, a JustGiving page).
Monitor sign-ups and push for more. Do not wait until September! - Leverage Social Media for Engagement
Encourage participants to share their preparation and then progress on social platforms. This not only fosters community but also serves as free promotion for your facility.
Use #ChallengeForChange and create your own club hashtag to track and respond to member posts. - Offer Incentives for Participation
Provide small rewards or recognition for milestones achieved during the challenge.
This could be as simple as a shout-out on your bulletin board or social media.
Or order a club merchandise pack from challengeforchange.org.uk to kit out staff or reward members with t-shirts, hats, water bottles, etc. - Schedule Regular Check-Ins
Organize bi-weekly preparation meetings now, and weekly meetings in September to discuss progress, share experiences, and maintain motivation among participants. - Celebrate and Gather Feedback Post-Challenge
After the challenge concludes, solicit feedback to understand what worked and how you can improve future initiatives.
Celebrate all your achievements and invite all non-members to join!
🏫 Schools & Education: 7 Tips to Prepare for Challenge for Change
- Announce Details of the Challenge NOW
Get the challenge on the radar of your teachers, students, and parents now. August or September will be too late! Request commitment from them, monitor sign-ups and push for more. - Engage the Entire School Community
Teacher and students are a good place to start, but think about how other staff (admin, management) and parents, grandparents, and carers can contribute to bring the community together.
Talk to everyone (especially students and other stakeholders) to get their buy in, ideas, targets, and foster a sense of unity and shared purpose. - Choose Your Charity to Support
Pick a local children’s charity that means a lot to you and/or your participants. Get in touch and tell them you are doing the challenge for them! - Integrate Physical Activity into Daily Routine
Implement short, daily exercise sessions like the "Daily Mile" to promote physical health and prepare students for participation in larger challenges. - Incorporate Educational Elements and Healthy Competition
Tie the challenge into lessons on health, science, or maths to provide a holistic educational experience. Encourage competition between year groups, departments, or how many parents/carers have signed up/taken part to boost engagement across the challenge. - Set Achievable Goals
Establish clear, attainable objectives for students to strive toward, ensuring they remain motivated and engaged. They should drive more sign-ups and participation from the wider community. - Celebrate Achievements
Recognize and celebrate milestones reached before, during and after the challenge to boost morale and encourage continued participation.
🏢 Workplaces: 7 Tips to Prepare for Challenge for Change
- Consider the Challenge Format and Participants
Challenge for Change involves collecting distance travelled (run, walk, wheel, swim).
Discuss ideas with staff and appoint champions… not your most sporty/fit people, but those who will make it fun and inclusive.
Set targets for participants, distance, and money raised. - Choose Your Charity to Support
Pick a local children’s charity that means a lot to you and/or your participants.
Get in touch and tell them you are doing the challenge for them!
Find out if your company supports matched giving, or similar to boost totals and buy-in. - Form Cross-Departmental Teams
Encourage employees from different departments to form teams, promoting interdepartmental collaboration and camaraderie. - Help Staff to Prepare
Offer training plans, “Couch to 5k” schemes and teams to get people ready for the challenge in September.
Link up with a local gym or health club to write programmes, offer advice, or short-term memberships to prepare. - Make it Easy to Take Part and Collect More Miles
Integrate short, scheduled breaks for physical activity into the workday to promote health and well-being.
Set up a group on Strava for everyone who cycles to work.
Schedule events; morning wellbeing walks, lunchtime bike rides, after work swims, to encourage mass participation. - Provide Resources and Support
Offer resources such as fitness trackers, refuel options (e.g. healthy snacks, breakfast, lunch), access to showers, etc. to support employees in their challenge participation. - Recognize and Reward Participation
Implement a system to acknowledge and reward employees who actively participate and achieve milestones in the challenge.
Celebrate all your achievements at the end of the challenge.
What are you doing for ChallengeForChange, and how will you go further and raise more this September? Let us know in the comments below...
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