This spring, Beat the Street gave residents across Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary an extra reason to get moving, with our local walking groups embracing the challenge and enjoying the benefits of being active together.
From Wednesday 13 May to Wednesday 26 June, Beat the Street encouraged residents of all ages to walk, cycle, run, scoot and wheel as far as possible over six weeks. The idea is simple: get out, get moving, and explore your local community while collecting points by tapping special sensors called Beat Boxes. Along the way, participants had the chance to enjoy fresh air, connect with others, and experience the positive impact that being active can have on both physical and mental wellbeing.
The challenge got off to an incredible start, with over 1,000 residents signing up in just one day and collectively clocking up 198 miles of active travel straight away. It was clear from the very beginning that Thurrock was ready to move!
Going the extra mile, with our walking groups in Essex!
Among those taking part were our Tilbury Walking Group and Chadwell Walking Group, who entered teams and fully embraced the challenge and they didn’t just stick to their regular weekly walks. On walking group days, many members headed out for an extra walk before meeting the group, and some even enjoyed a second walk afterwards, all in a bid to collect more points. Many said the challenge gave them an added sense of purpose and motivation to get outside each day. Those extra walks meant more opportunities to clear their minds, enjoy time outdoors and connect with others, all of which can have a real impact on mental wellbeing.
All that effort certainly paid off. When the final scores came in, Chadwell Walking Group finished in 1st place, with Tilbury Walking Group achieving an impressive 3rd place. What an achievement!
More than just points
For the walkers themselves, the challenge was about far more than the leaderboard. It brought a fresh sense of fun and purpose to something they already love doing and gave them a reason to explore their local area together.
Sandra from Chadwell Walking Group explained how the challenge motivated her to be more active and support her wellbeing:
“I really enjoyed doing Beat the Street. It made me get out and walk, which is good for our wellbeing and health. Would like for it to come to our community again sometime before I get too old!”
Joy from Tilbury Walking Group highlighted the importance of exercising with others and agreed that the social side made all the difference:
“I really enjoyed taking part in Beat the Street. Although I already do a lot of walking, it gave me that little bit of extra incentive to get out and about, and it made my walks even more enjoyable. One of the best parts was taking part with the walking group. It added a lovely social aspect, and it was great chatting, encouraging each other, and sharing the experience together. It made something we already enjoy doing feel even more rewarding.”
The success of both walking groups highlights something we talk about a lot through Find Your Active: Move for Your Mind: finding an activity you enjoy can make a real difference to how you feel. Walking is one of the most accessible ways to be active, and when you do it together, the benefits go far beyond physical health. It lifts your mood, eases stress, builds friendships, and creates a real sense of community.
Proud of our walkers
We are incredibly proud of both groups for getting behind this fantastic local initiative. Not only did they support a community challenge, but they had great fun, stayed active, and inspired others along the way. Everyone involved said they thoroughly enjoyed taking part, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.
If their story has inspired you to lace up your trainers, why not join a local walking group? Through Find Your Active: Move for Your Mind, we’re encouraging people across Essex to discover activities that work for them and experience the benefits that movement can bring to both body and mind. You don’t need to be sporty or start big; if you’re looking for a simple way to support your wellbeing, walking is a great place to start.
It’s friendly, open to everyone, whatever your pace, and who knows, you might even find yourself topping a leaderboard one day. But the most important thing is finding what’s right for you and making it part of your routine.
Find out more about Beat the Street and how it came to Thurrock. Explore Find Your Active: Move for Your Mind and discover ways to get started. Every step counts towards a healthier, happier, more connected Essex.
