LIVING STREETS NEWS RELEASE

Commuters regularly face more stress than fighter pilots , and with government statistics showing we now jump in the car for over a fifth of journeys shorter than one mile, a brand new campaign and website is here to help office workers build walking (and some relaxation!) into their daily commute.

Walking Works is a national campaign from Living Streets, funded in England by the Big Lottery Fund and in London by Transport for London. With millions of office workers stuck behind a desk all day, the campaign will highlight the role that walking can have in bringing physical activity, fresh air and a chance to unwind into our daily lives.

The new campaign website asks employees to pledge to increase their walking levels in return for help and tips along the way. The impact of walking more can be huge: walking just 30 minutes a day during the working week means reaching the Government's recommended level of daily activity needed to transform your health, as well as getting some quality time to prepare for the day ahead (or unwind after it!).

More walking means benefits for business too - one study suggests that just 90 minutes of exercise a week can cut absenteeism levels by up to half. Living Streets' Walking Works campaign will help businesses to get their workforce walking by providing practical tips (such as how to hold a walking meeting) alongside more detailed advice (such as how to set up a walking champions scheme in your business).

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said:

"Walking Works isn't aiming to make people feel guilty for not doing aerobics every day, or raising eyebrows if people don't want to start training for a marathon. What we really need to do as a nation is get back in the habit of being active in our daily lives, and walking all or part of the way to work is a fantastic way to do just that.

"Encouraging your colleagues to take simple steps such as pledging to walk more, going for lunchtime walks or even experimenting with ‘walking meetings'. In 2006 the average worker took seven days off sick, losing 175 million working days and costing the economy £13.4bn . Improving the health of those working in your organisation is a real and worthwhile way to reduce this burden, and we hope this exciting new campaign can help in that."

For more information contact Lucy Abell, Living Streets' Communications Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel 020 7820 1010.