National Fitness Day: Creating Community with Workplace Fitness

At That Day, we support individuals and teams in all areas of wellbeing, but 10 years ago, workplace fitness is where it all began and it remains the core to who we are and what we believe in.

Which is why National Fitness Day is such an important day in our calendar. The chance to celebrate the role that physical activity can play in our health and wellbeing. For a lot of people, knowing where to start can be the hardest part. They might have been meaning to try a new class, get back into a fitness routine after the summer, or simply find a way to be a little more active during the working day. Sometimes all it takes is a small nudge to turn that intention into action.

That Day’s National Fitness Day Class Raffle

With the theme of encouraging people to get involved, we are bringing back our week-long class raffle (14–18 September) for all our existing customer sites to mark National Fitness Day.

The idea is simple: if you attend a That Day fitness class during the week, you will automatically be entered into the raffle. The more classes you attend, the more entries you receive!

It’s designed to be a fun way to get people engaged and trying new classes, but there is also a bigger idea behind it.

September is a natural time for people to get back into routines after the summer holidays, with the return to work feeling very ‘back to school’. It is often a time when people start thinking about getting back into fitness and September can even be one of the biggest fitness periods of the year.

For someone who has never tried a particular class before, that little bit of extra motivation can make all the difference. Maybe you've walked past the gym but never gone in. Maybe you've seen a class on the timetable and wondered what it is like. Or perhaps a colleague has been telling you that you should come along for weeks.

The real aim of the raffle, not simply to increase attendance for one week, but to encourage people to discover classes they might not otherwise have tried and, hopefully, keep coming back.

We definitely saw this effect last year, when class attendance increased during the raffle week and, more importantly, the increase continued afterwards. That is exactly the kind of behaviour change we want to encourage. National Fitness Day might be the reason someone walks into a class for the first time, but it does not have to be the end point.

What can people win?

There are three prizes up for grabs, giving participants more than one opportunity to win something.

First prize is a £500 Canopy & Stars voucher, giving the winner the chance to choose from a range of beautiful stays, including cabins and glamping-style accommodation in nature.

Second prize is a pair of Vivobarefoot shoes, designed around natural movement with a wide toe box that allows the feet to spread and move more naturally.

Third prize is a Healf voucher, which can be used across a range of wellbeing products.

So whether you are tempted by a weekend away in nature, a new pair of training shoes or something for your own wellbeing routine, there is a prize worth getting involved for.

Introducing the ‘'Office Athlete'’

While a week-long raffle is a great way to create a bit of energy around fitness, we know that lasting engagement is about more than a single campaign.

One of the biggest challenges with workplace fitness programmes is getting people to make classes part of their routine. Someone might try a class because it is available as a workplace perk, enjoy it, and then gradually stop going. The challenge is turning that initial enthusiasm into something consistent.

That is where our new 'Office Athlete' initiative comes in. Every quarter, instructors will get the chance to nominate participants from their classes who stand out for their consistency, effort, attitude, positive energy or helpfulness. That could be someone who attends every week and always gives their best, someone who makes a new participant feel welcome, or someone who helps set up before a class and brings enthusiasm with them.

Once the winner is chosen, they will be presented with an ‘Office Athlete’ medal and a voucher at their next class.

'Office Athlete' is designed to recognise and celebrate the people who help make That Day classes what they are. It’s about acknowledging the people who bring the right energy and attitude to their classes.

There is also a community benefit. When someone wins an 'Office Athlete' award, they can take that recognition back into their workplace. Maybe they put their That Day medal on their desk. Maybe someone asks what they won it for. Maybe a colleague who has never tried a class hears about it and decides to come along.

One person's experience can start a conversation and that conversation can encourage someone else to take their first step.

Our first 'Office Athlete'

The first 'Office Athlete' award was presented last night, and the winner was nominated by Stevie, one of our boxing instructors.

Stevie has more than 25 years of boxing experience, so he knows what it takes to develop skill and confidence in the sport. But his nomination wasn't simply about the winner's boxing ability.

The participant has previous boxing experience, but what stood out to Stevie was the way he used that experience to encourage and support others.

Rather than simply focusing on his own performance, he has been an encouraging presence for people who are newer to boxing. He has shown humility towards those who are not yet at his level and helped create an environment where other participants feel supported.

That makes him a great example of what 'Office Athlete' is all about. It is about showing up, putting in the effort, bringing positive energy and helping other people feel that they belong there too. So congratulations to our first winner David from 78 St James Street!

So ultimately, what we are trying to say this National Fitness Day is fitness isn't just about what you can achieve physically. It is about how movement makes you feel, the habits you build and the people you experience it with.