Salford to be transformed into a giant game to get people active

The city of Salford will be turned into a giant game as part of Beat the Street, a novel way of increasing activity levels across a population.

People of all ages are encouraged to ditch the car and walk, cycle or scoot as part of a drive to take children away from screens and back into nature.

An expected 27,000 children and adults, including 76 primary schools, are due to take part as the event gets communities connecting and exploring, and off their phones.

Around 250 beeping and flashing sensors called ‘Beat Boxes’ will be placed on lampposts around the city. Players score points by placing cards on the boxes and, the further players travel, the more points they score for their school, community, charity, or workplace team. Beat the Street encourages people of all ages to be active in their daily lives. It was devised by GP, Dr William Bird, to make exercise and physical activity fun through gamification.

NHS research links too much screen time with sitting still and not being active — leading to weight gain and affecting sleep and concentration. Research in 2024 by ukactive also stated that two-fifths of children want to be more physically active than they currently are.

Beat the Street has now been played by more than two million people in 200 towns and cities across the UK and beyond and, typically, 13% of the population of an area takes part.