The inspiration behind RED January

Physical activity and mental wellbeing

Inactivity is a major issue in the UK, costing the NHS nearly £1 billion annually. With RED January, you can be part of the solution.

This challenge isn't about making empty New Year's resolutions that quickly fall by the wayside - it's about making lasting changes that benefit your wellbeing and your community.

What is RED January?

RED focuses on setting yourself a realistic movement goal for every day in January. A goal that works for you and your lifestyle, and that you have a real chance of continuing throughout the year.

Our Founder's story

I was inspired to start RED January after witnessing the transformative effect that regular physical activity had on my Mum, as she recovered from a period of severe depression.

I’ve always relied on physical activity to support my wellbeing, and I wondered if it could also help my Mum. I signed us both up to a walking marathon. Slowly and steadily, my Mum began getting out of the house each day to train. She started to see a change in her mood and energy and some of her symptoms lessened. The sense of achievement gained by setting a goal and seeing it through, along with the physical effects of regular physical activity, helped transform my mum’s approach to managing her mental health.

This got me thinking about what was out there for people like my Mum, who might need extra support to take on a physical challenge, and could benefit hugely from an inclusive event. We couldn’t find anything, particularly in the winter months, a time where evidence shows that as a nation we tend to be less active, experience low moods and increased depressive symptoms.

By providing a free event for all fitness abilities, we believed we could encourage people like my Mum to support their mental health by building movement into their daily lives. And with the combination of a physical activity challenge, plus the support of a wider online community, we aimed to create an initiative that not only helped people for one month of the year, but throughout their lives.

January seemed like the perfect month for the initiative, providing an opportunity to kick-start the year in a positive way. It’s a time when many of us are setting new goals, but are low on funds and motivation, with less social occasions to keep us connected. RED is an empowering colour for dark times, that could inspire those taking part to move every day, to beat the winter blues away.

FAQs