New initiative launched to help Fife workers be more active

Fife Council has launched a Daily Mile initiative to encourage staff to walk during the working day, thanks to part-funding from Paths for All.

Initiative launched to help Fife Council staff walk more

Walk a Mile a Day maps, which detail short, accessible local routes, have been printed and will be available in five of the council's main offices.

Staff are being encouraged to take a short walk over lunchtime or enjoy a walking meeting with colleagues.

The new initiative, which has been approved by the Daily Mile, was officially launched on Thursday by Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick. He said: 

Being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health. By walking just one mile or for 15 minutes a day, people can make huge changes to their lives and it’s simple and inexpensive to do.

Scotland has made great progress in becoming more active, with 81 per cent of people saying they’ve been physically active or played sport in the past four weeks.


Frances Bain, operations manager at Paths for All said: “Walking is a great way to fit physical activity into your day, whether you are at home or at work. It’s free, you don’t need any special equipment and you can do it on your lunch break or during a walking meeting with colleagues.

“That’s why we’re delighted to support Fife Council in this initiative which will give thousands of council staff access to maps detailing short, accessible walking routes around their offices.

“That idea links in well to the Paths for All’s Walk at Work programme which supports staff to make small, achievable changes in their workplace to help them move more during the working day. We know walking at work, reduces stress, decreases sickness absence and creates a better working relationships.

“The maps will also help to deliver the strategic aims of the National Walking Strategy by creating a culture of walking in people’s everyday lives, at home, at work, or at school.

“We hope to see ideas like this take off elsewhere, and look forward to the opportunity of supporting other employers who want to make their workplace and their employees healthier and more active.”

The Walk a Mile a Day initiative is an extension of the work going on within Fife Council by the Active Fife team to encourage staff to sit less and move more.