Children in a white and purple uniforms are ready to start running. There's a mixture of girls and boys from different backgrounds and ethnicities. There's a teacher on the left side of the children, it's a white woman wearing a blue Daily Mile shirt.

Active Mile

Our Active Mile programme helps schools embed simple, sustainable physical activity into the school day – ensuring every child has the opportunity to move, play, and feel energised.

What is the Active Mile?

The Active Mile is a short, 15 minute burst of physical activity, where children jog, run, walk, or even skip their way round a one-mile route. This programme is designed to be school friendly and inclusive for everyone. Schools can deliver their mile at any time of day, in school clothes, without special equipment, preparation, or additional scheduling – whenever works best for your school.

Active Mile initiatives are proven to increase children’s activity levels and boost their physical fitness, mental wellbeing, and readiness to learn.

Children running in an outside playground. All children are wearing their own clothes. One white boy is wearing a red puffer jacket, the white girl in the centre of the photo is wearing a pink t-shirt and some black trousers. On the rigth of the photo there's a white boy with a white t-shirt and blue jeans.

School children running near a building in red uniforms. They're running with a teacher, a white woman with a blue t-shirt.

Children running on an outside schools playground. Majority of the boys on the image are white and wearing black trousers. One boy is wearing a white shirt and the other one is yellow. There's a teacher running with them too. A white male with a white shirt and a grey vest.

5 white boys running in blue shirts through a marked road. With a Daily Mile sign behind them.

Children running through a blue tarmac. A Living Sport staff on the right is standing on the left cheering the children on.

All school children photo. All are wearing red uniforms. and are standing on a playground. A mixture of race and age. There's three teachers wearing blue shirts.

Children under the age of 8 standing in front of a Daily Mile sign. There's 10 children all together with 5 white girls and 5 boys (3 white and 2 black boys).

Support from Living Better

Whether you have a playground loop, field edge, or a safe outdoor route – we will help you map the space and integrate the Active Mile smoothly into your daily practice. You’ll also receive:

Guidance based on national evidence and Living Better success stories
Practical ideas to launch or refresh your Active Mile
Tailored support from our Programme Delivery Team

For more information contact our Children & Young People Lead at abbie.mills@living-better.org.uk.

Success Stories

Following several successful years of delivery across the county, we have expanded our offer to continue to inspire daily movement and emphasise the vital link between physical activity, well-being, and learning.

This highlighted that every child, regardless of ability, can enjoy being active. With continued support, we can help every school make 15 minutes a day a lifelong habit for healthier, happier children.

Stapleford

Stapleford Primary have launched their Active Mile and there’s no going back!

Nene and Ramnoth

Partnership support to help us to continue this 15-minute daily initiative.

Download case study

A white woman is running in a blue t-shirt next to a brown girl who is wearing a white shirt and a purple cardigan. The woman has brunette hair, wears glasses and has half an arm. The girl is also brunette with a pink headband on and a pink watch.

Why sign your school up for the Active Mile?

Physical Health Benefits

Short daily activity improves fitness builds stamina, and helps establish lifelong positive behaviours by promoting competition-free healthy habits.

Mental Wellbeing & Behaviour

Regular movement supports improved mood, resilience, and emotional regulation. Teachers often report better focus and smoother transitions back into learning.

Inclusive

The mile is not a race, children can walk, run, or even skip if they choose. All children can participate – no kit, no cost, no barriers. Suitable for communities facing limited funding and facility access to offer physical activity opportunities.

Sign your school up today!

Join the Active Mile today and help your school build a stronger, healthier community.

By taking part, you’re giving every child – regardless of background, confidence, or ability – the chance to move more, feel better, and thrive. Together, we can break down barriers to participation and make daily activity an enjoyable, accessible routine for all pupils. To kickstart your journey, get in touch with our Children & Young People team.

Email us at info@living-better.org.uk