Beat the Street helps create a healthier, happier and more active Barnsley

Beat the Street is an active community game that was co-ordinated by the Sport and Physical Activity Team in partnership with Intelligent Health, commissioned by Barnsley Council and funded by the Great Childhood Ambition, South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority and The National Lottery through Sport England. 

The game returned earlier this year for 6 weeks, with an impressive 22,000 participants getting involved, moving over 115,000 miles and exploring the local area. This year’s game helped members of our community become more physically active and enjoy the outdoors together. 

82 primary schools across the borough were actively involved, encouraging pupils and their families to walk, wheel, or cycle to earn points for their school. Adults could join their child’s school, workplace or community team; or play to support the charity YMCA Barnsley. 

Key impacts during Beat the Street 

The game resulted in players spending more time outdoors, improving their wellbeing, creating stronger community connections and improving participants sense of belonging.  

Physical activity increased, adults walked more frequently for leisure, car commuting decreased by 5% and both adults and children reported higher levels of happiness and worthwhileness. 

Dr William Bird, CEO of Intelligent Health, said: "Barnsley has been one of our flagship Beat the Street games.  We are very proud to see the positive impact that the game has had in the area, and we are working long-term with stakeholders in Barnsley to ensure that all participants continue to enjoy the benefits of movement and physical activity." 

Cllr James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: "It was great to welcome Beat the Street back to Barnsley for another incredibly successful year. I was thrilled to see over 22,000 people from our communities taking part in this, and a huge movement of people excited about being more active, reducing the amount of time sat down and choosing walking, cycling and scooting as modes of transport.    

“The insights and data that we have collected will enable us to develop our wider ambitions of enabling everyone in Barnsley to Move More, Live Well, Feel Better." 

Our Sport and Physical Activity Team will continue to work with stakeholders to get more people in Barnsley physically active and bring more exciting initiatives to our community.  

View the full Beat the Street Barnsley 2025 report here.