With an estimated 70% of adults not doing enough exercise to benefit their health and government statistics showing that we jump in the car for over a fifth of journeys shorter than one mile, commuters are being urged to change their journey to work during National Walk to Work Week (27th April - 1st May).

National charity Living Streets runs the Walking Works Campaign, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and in London by Transport for London, to highlight the role that walking can play in bringing some much needed activity into the workplace.

During Walk to Work Week this year, we're asking everyone to think about how they could fit more walking into their average day by setting a series of five challenges, which individuals or entire staff teams can complete during Walk to Work Week.

5 Challenges:
1. Walk all or part of your way to work
2. Take a "walking meeting"
3. Get out and enjoy your local area during your lunch hour this week.
4. Take a walk with a friend or colleague
5. Walk all or part of your journey home this week

Individuals, staff teams or even whole companies can compete against each other, pitting distances and time walked in an effort to be the most walking friendly workplace! The challenges are designed to be flexible enough to fit in with the average working week and people can choose which to undertake and when according to their individual schedules.
On the week itself we will be launching an online tool to allow individual employees, organisations and businesses to track their own progress, including calories burned and carbon saved, and to compare themselves against others in the local area and find out how the nation is progressing as a whole.
Walk to Work Week is an annual reminder that walking all or part of the commute is fun, green and healthy. More than 27 million adults in England are not getting enough exercise, but walking for just 30 minutes a day during the working week means meeting the governments recommended level of daily activity to transform your health.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
"We're facing an obesity epidemic in this country, largely because very few people are actually exercising enough to get health benefits. There is a free and easy way to work more exercise into your daily routine however - give yourself a daily dose of walking.

"The impact of walking more can be huge, not only for your health, but to give you time to plan the day ahead, or to unwind after it. We urge everyone to give it a go during Walk to Work Week, you'll be amazed at how enjoyable it can be."

To find out more information and to register to take part in Walk to Work Week please visit, http://www.walkingworks.org.uk/walk-to-work-week/

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For more information, photographs or graphics contact Anna Powell, Press Officer on 020 7377 4914 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For any out of office hours enquires, please call 07545 209865

Notes to editors

Resources for Walk to Work Week must be ordered by 6pm on 30 March 2009.

Living Streets' Walking Works campaign is an England-wide communications programme, with specific funding for London. Our aims are to encourage employees to walk more as part of their daily commute and to help employers to promote walking. Visit www.walkingworks.org.uk for more information.

Living Streets' national Walking Works campaign is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a Consortium of the leading walking, cycling and health organisations and funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Wellbeing Programme. The Programme provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.

The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling, CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers' Association, Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable 2 million people nationwide to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.

Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.

We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.

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