RED January FAQs

When you sign up to RED January, you have the option to record your activity on your RED profile. You can do that automatically by connecting a movement app - this includes Strava, Fitbit, MapMyFitness and Garmin - or manually, by entering details of your activity in the ‘Add Activity’ section. 

To do this, step over to the drop-down menu in the top right next to your name, and click on 'Add activity'. From there, scroll down to below your recorded activities, and add steps, kms or time spent moving - then click ‘save’ to update. 

Many REDers also like to download the RED January calendar to help track their personal progress, and to share their daily activity with the online RED community.

If you share on social, why not include #REDJanuary - we’d love to see where your RED journey takes you! 

There are currently four fitness apps that connect with your RED January profile:

Fitbit, Strava, MapMyFitness and Garmin. 

• Once you've logged in, go to 'My Account' at the top right of the page.
• Click on 'My Page' 
• Click on 'Add Activity' from the middle option bar
• Click on the app you use, under the 'Connect your preferred fitness app' section. 
• Follow the instructions from there. It will take you to that app’s page, where you'll need to log in. 

There’s a short delay between when you enter your activity and when it shows on your profile. If you wait thirty minutes and come back to it, it should show. Please do get in touch if you can’t see it after that time at hello@redtogether.co.uk

Your celebratory badges will appear at key milestones during your RED journey, for example, when you’ve reached your activity and/or fundraising goal. These can be found via ‘My Achievements’ tab in your RED profile. 

If you’ve completed a milestone, but your badge isn’t showing, please get in touch with us at hello@redtogether.co.uk, and we’ll get it sorted for you. 

As distances can be uploaded manually, there are occasionally a few mistakes people accidentally make with their recordings. We look out for these, and update when we notice! 

It’s also worth noting that lots of REDers at the top of the ‘distance’ leaderboard are cyclists, so if you’re walking, running or taking on any other movement challenge, we’d recommend checking the ‘time’ or ‘steps’ leaderboards.

Please get in touch with us at hello@redtogether.co.uk if you’d like to delete your RED January profile.

This year, RED January is looking to respond to the increasing challenges we're facing as a society, by backing grassroots movement and mental health projects that bring huge, direct value to people. These are often the projects that know their local situation best, and can implement longer-lasting, more effective change. 

This is a critical time for these organisations. Not only do many of them often fall under-the-radar, under-represented in research and statistics, but these are exactly the kinds of causes who have seen their funding decline, especially during a period where costs are stretched.

As a result, we'll now be working with a wider range of organisations and charities, rather than teaming up with just one charity partner. 

This will still include supporting those charities we have in previous years, like Sport in Mind, but we’ll now be investing even more in local projects across the country.

Your fitness and fundraising efforts will support grassroot movement and mental health projects that bring huge, direct value to people. These are often the projects that know their local situation best, and can implement longer-lasting, more effective change. 

Many of these organisations often fall under-the-radar, under-represented in research and statistics, but these are exactly the kinds of causes who have seen their funding decline, especially during a period where costs are stretched.

Your fundraising will still be supporting those charities we’ve worked with in previous years, like Sport in Mind, but we’ll now be investing even more in local projects across the country.

Thank you for all of your fundraising efforts - they’re making a huge difference to communities around the UK. 

For RED January 2024, fundraising begins as soon as you set up your RED profile, which is available from the start of October 2023. The fundraising finish line is the end of February 2024.

The option to donate to RED January’s year-round mission is available throughout the year.

We’re sorry to hear this. When you make a donation, you should have the option to assign this to a team or person that’s taking part in RED. If you didn’t get this option, or did but your donation isn’t showing on their page, please do get in touch with the team at hello@redtogether.co.uk 

Thank you for taking a step forward for others.

The targets you set are personal targets, you can increase or lower these depending on what works best for you. 

Please rest assured that we don’t ask anyone to make up the difference between a target and the actual donations raised by the end of RED January.

RED January is a nationwide movement that exists to empower everyone to move for their mental wellbeing during the winter, a time of year where as a nation we tend to be less active, this is linked to lower mood and energy. 

You can join individually, or create a team with your friends, family, club or workplace, to get some healthy competition going!

Simply sign up for free, and set a daily movement and fundraising goal that works for you.

We encourage everyone to set a daily movement goal that works for their lifestyle.

Looking forward some inspiration? Here are some examples of the kinds of challenges that REDers set themselves.

Absolutely! 

Step over to our downloads page, and scroll down to 'upload your local activities', to download your step-by-step guide.

RED January is founded on research which demonstrates that regular physical activity can have a positive impact on your mental health and emotional wellbeing. 

Research from the Mental Health Foundation, shows that adults participating in daily physical activity are up to 30% lower risk of depression. And this Gov.uk research demonstrates the wide range of physical benefits movement can have. 

Our own research with the University of Oxford, also showed that more than 50% of RED January participants experienced less stress and reduced signs of depressive symptoms, as a result of taking part in the challenge.* 

*Data drawn from 3,049 registered RED January 2020 participants

January is often seen as a time for new beginnings, it’s also a time when resources are sometimes low, and the isolation brought by shorter, darker days can be hard. 

RED January is here to provide everyone with a free and inclusive way to boost their activity levels and mental fitness, all whilst being supported by a growing community.

Whether you’re planning on walking 10 minutes a day, enjoying an online fitness class or cycling 100 miles over the month, we’d always suggest setting a goal that works for you and your lifestyle. Everyone is different. We’ll be here to support you every step of the way, however you decide to take on the challenge.

In most circumstances, physical activity is beneficial for your mental and physical health, and can be helpful as part of a long-term recovery or treatment plan. But there are some situations where you might need to take extra care in case it starts to become a problem for you. If you’re concerned about your level of physical activity, we’d always recommend contacting your GP before taking on this challenge. 

It’s important to be aware that you could be at risk of over-exercising. That’s why RED January encourages setting realistic goals, tailored to you. We are all unique and our approach to physical activity should be too. The general advice for most people is that exercise should be around 30 minutes per day, and no more than 45 minutes.

We also encourage REDers to mix up their routine with yoga and stretching, doing low impact activities where possible, and resting when needed.

All around the country! 

RED January can be enjoyed wherever works for you, and you can take on the challenge by yourself, as part of a team with friends, family or colleagues, as part of a UK-wide organisation, or with your four legged friend. You decide where and when is best for you. 

Wherever you RED, know that you’ll be part of a growing community of REDers all around the country that will be out and about, moving at the same time as you.

Step over to your online shop to get kitted out in your official RED January merchandise.

In addition to your official long sleeved technical top, RED January is proud to partner with Decathlon, making RED merchandise available to adults, kids and your four legged friends.

100% of merchandise profits goes to Sport in Mind, the UK mental health charity that uses sport and physical activity to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health challenges.

Step over to our Facebook community, exclusively for REDers. 

Not on Facebook? You can also join our online RED community on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Why not include #REDJanuary in your social posts, or #whyiRED to share your story of why you got involved with RED January. We’d love to see where your RED journey takes you!

We also run REDer meet-ups throughout the year. Keep an eye on our social channels for upcoming announcements. 

We’d love to hear your story. If you’re on social media, feel free to share it using the hashtag #whyiRED, or if you prefer the more direct route, please contact us at hello@redtogether.co.uk 

We sometimes get more offers of stories than we’re able to respond to or publish. Please know that we read all of them and will get back to as many REDers as we can.

We love to follow REDer’s journeys, and to hear more about how they got involved in RED January. 

Many REDers use the #whyiRED hashtag to share their story, including why they are motivated to take on the challenge each year. 

From voice note to video, article to photo, share your story in a way that works for you, and if you use the hashtag we might get back in touch to talk more! 

We’re here all-year-round with our community of partners to help you continue the year as you started it by sharing fellow REDers stories, expert advice and inspiration. We do this through our website, newsletters and social channels, and by hosting activities and events where REDers can meet up in person.

Thanks to your incredible fitness and fundraising efforts during RED January, RED also leads a year-round mission to support movement and mental health projects that can drive real change in local communities.

We also campaign for positive change in schools and workplaces, including our recent workplace wellbeing campaign where we’re championing movement breaks for all UK employees.

RED Together refers to our work to provide year-round advice and inspiration for REDers. 

RED Together recognises the strength of the RED community and the way we motivate each other to keep active well beyond January. 

We’re here to help you find practical ways to start, rekindle or continue being active throughout the year, so you can support your mental wellbeing. Why not join our Facebook community here, or follow our online RED channels on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, to share your stories and support your fellow REDers. 

Infoline

The Mind Infoline is open from 9.00 – 18.00 Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 0300 123 3393. You can also text the Infoline on 86463 or email info@mind.org.uk

Information about other Mind helplines including the Legal Line and Blue Light Infoline are available on Mind’s website.

Information

There is a wealth of information about a huge range of issues on the Mind website – all the information is available free of charge and has been certified as trustworthy and reliable by the Information Standard.

Local Minds

There are local Mind services across England and Wales, providing support via direct services like talking therapies, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, employment and training schemes, counselling and befriending.

Search for your nearest local Mind here.

Crisis support

If you need immediate help, please contact your Accident & Emergency department or call NHS Direct (111).

You can also contact the Samaritans who are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org

More information about support that may be available for you is on the Mind website.