Swindon Beat the Street charities selected ahead of its launch next week

By Jessica Durston - 8 September 2021

CommunityFitness

Organisers for the fitness game have chosen the two charities it will be supporting this year.

  • From left, Holly Grey, Faisal Mayed and Mia O'Sullivan from the Harbour Project pictured with Stuart Arthur from Wiltshire and Swindon Sport

    From left, Holly Grey, Faisal Mayed and Mia O'Sullivan from the Harbour Project pictured with Stuart Arthur from Wiltshire and Swindon Sport

The popular walking, cycling and rolling game Beat the Street returns to Swindon from next week.

Organisers have selected Mayor of Swindon Cllr Garry Perkins’ two chosen charities for his year in office - Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home and The Harbour Project – to benefit from this year’s Beat the Street game.

Participants can join a school, community or workplace team, or can join one of the two charity teams. These will have their own designated leaderboard and can win £350 for first place and £150 for second place.

Jessie May Children's Hospice provides nursing care at home for children and young people with life-limiting conditions who are not expected to live beyond the age of 19.

The charity was established in September 1994 by Chris and Philippa Purrington, following the death of their baby daughter Jessica May. She died from a genetic condition known as severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy when she was  four months old. Since Jessie May was founded, it has supported more than 300 children and their families.

The Harbour Project helps families and individuals who are seeking asylum in Swindon. The charity aims to help people to rebuild their lives by providing advice, support, practical help and friendship.

Since starting its work in 2000, with a focus on Kosovan refugees, The Harbour Project now works with people from more than 50 countries, providing daily English classes, weekly women and youth groups, and a Steps2Work programme.

Beat the Street Swindon takes place from Wednesday, 15 September to 27 October, encouraging friends and families to get active together.

More than 200 Beat Boxes are being installed in locations around the Swindon area which players will use to score points as they travel as far as possible on foot, or by bike.

Players can hover their Beat the Street game cards over a Beat Box to start their journey, and can score points for themselves and their team for each Beat Box they swipe in the next hour.

Primary-aged children will receive Beat the Street game packs through their school. The packs include a game card, wall chart, stickers, and a set of fun challenges to try each week. Parents will receive game cards so they can play along, too.

Beat the Street is brought to the public by Swindon Borough Council, working in partnership with Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP), and Swindon Healthy Schools. It is delivered by Intelligent Health.

More information about where to collect free Beat the Street cards and how to play can be found at www.beatthestreet.me/swindon

Beath the Street can be followed on social media: @BTSSwindon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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