The winners of a citywide game that helped thousands of young people across Salford get healthier have been presented with their prizes.
Schools, charities, workplaces, teams and individuals were invited to a special presentation at Eccles Town Hall on Wednesday evening to celebrate the champions of Beat the Street, a competition that transformed Salford into a real-life active travel game.
The free, interactive game encouraged Salford residents of all ages to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives by rewarding teams with points and prizes the further they walked, cycled, ran and scooted.
Beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes were placed around the area for the duration of the competition, with participants invited to score points on journeys between them.
A total of 18,336 people signed up and got involved and collectively clocked up an active travel mileage of 88,654 miles.
Among the winners who attended the presentation were the incredible pupils at Lewis Street Primary, who topped the leaderboard for Eccles and district schools and smashed it city‑wide with an amazing 347,480 points.
Meanwhile, Community, Workplace and Charity group winners included MileShyClub, Salford Loaves and Fishes and Heads Up Gentleman.
Upon being crowned champions, they received their prizes of trophies and vouchers for books or sporting equipment from The Bupa Foundation, Beat the Street, Salford City Council and Canal River Trust.
The children were ecstatic as event mascot Beatie the Hedgehog made an appearance to help hand out prizes.
The Beat the Street fitness drive was commissioned by the Bupa Foundation, a charity that aims to create healthier communities across the country.
Claire Baker-Mosley, Head of Community at the Bupa Foundation, was in attendance at the ceremony. She said: “Months on, we’re still hearing fantastic stories from Salford residents who took part in Beat the Street and who continue to implement the healthy lifestyle habits that the game brings.
“The game has left a real legacy and there’s more to come, with trees being planted across Salford with City of Trees, helping to create greener, healthier spaces for years ahead.”
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Equalities, Sports and Leisure also shared: “Beat the Street demonstrated the vital role that culture, sport and leisure play in creating healthier, more connected communities across Salford.
By transforming familiar streets, parks and heritage spaces into places for activity and shared experiences, the programme encouraged residents of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a fun, inclusive way.
It is a powerful example of how accessible, community‑led initiatives can reduce inequalities, celebrate our local environment and support long‑term health and wellbeing across the city.”
Councillor Mishal Saeed, Executive Support Member for Social Care and Mental Health, added: “Thank you so much to everyone who attended our recent presentation event.
“Having achieved so much during the Beat the Street Salford game across October and November, we felt that it was only right that we celebrated the huge achievement of the community, as well as the positive momentum and community cohesion that are still being felt.”
