Holborn Community Association, in partnership with Central YMCA, Coram’s Field and KCBNA and Camden Council is supporting efforts from Get Active, London Sport and Sport England to encourage complete beginners to become more active with the One You Couch to 5K running app.  

The campaign, aimed at increasing activity levels in Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and lower socio-economic groups (LSEG), offers encouragement and practical tips to support new exercise habits using the One You Couch to 5k running App. 

BAME and LSEG communities have seen activity levels disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown restrictions. Unfortunately, such inequalities are not new. 

 To support these groups, the One You Couch to 5K app offers a nine-week programme that can encourage even complete beginners to become more active by making running easy and fun.  

 Starting with a walk and then running for just a minute at a time, the programme sets realistic expectations and makes the challenge feel achievable from the start.  

 For the next six weeks, Holborn Community Association will be supporting a paid social media campaign including gifs and videos on Facebook and Instagram using #CamdenCouchto5K. 

 We will be encouraging people in South Camden to join the half a million people who have already got started with the One You Couch to 5K running app over the next 6 weeks and beyond. 

 The Couch to 5K running app is FREE, easy to use and perfect for those who are new to running and need some extra support and motivation along the way.

Paul Crozier, 

“One of the hardest things coping with things as they are right now is not having any sense of control or agency.  The good thing about this programme is that its something anyone can try – you don’t need fancy equipment or to ‘do well’ compared to others.  Hopefully, with some encouragement from our volunteers leading group runs and messages over social media people can take some small steps, get healthier and feel like they are taking control of their own bodies and lives.  Most importantly though, it should be fun!”