City charities set to enjoy boost from Beat the Street

Local charities will be among the winners when the popular walking, cycling and rolling game Beat the Street returns to Wolverhampton from next week.

Organisers have selected Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Greg Brackenridge's chosen charities for his year in office – Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation, Alternative Giving CIO and The Staffordshire Regiment Regimental Charity – to be the beneficiaries of this year's event, and they will share £500.

The popular physical activity challenge will take place across the city from this Tuesday (20 July) to Tuesday 17 August, encouraging friends and families to get active together.

Over 200 accessible Beat Boxes are being installed in locations around the city which players will use to score points as they travel as far as possible on foot, bike, stakeboard, scooter or in a wheelchair or pushchair around the game area.

Players will simply need to 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 60 minutes. There are a range of cash prizes and trophies up for grabs from a prize fund worth over £2,000.

Mayor Councillor Brackenridge said: "Everyone’s a winner in Beat the Street – the players who will be getting out and about, exploring our city and enjoying exercise together while having the chance to win cash prizes, and three very important local charities who will receive a share of £500.

“It’s free to play and anyone can take part, regardless of age and ability, so please grab your game cards and get tapping this summer.”

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

Meanwhile, everyone else can take part by collecting a free game card from one of the distribution points listed at www.beatthestreet.me/wolverhampton, including WV Active leisure centres, West Park Tea Rooms, Northycote Farm Cafe, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, The Way Youth Zone, Central Library, Bantock Park Cafe, Wildside Activity Centre and Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre.

This year’s game will be split into themed weeks, Go Play, Go Active, Go Wild and Go Explore, to help players make the most of their game experience.

Beat the Street is delivered by Intelligent Health with funding from the National Lottery via Sport England and forms a key part of the council’s Yo! Summer Festival, which will offer hundreds of events across the city, many free of charge, to keep children, young people and their families active and entertained throughout the school holidays.

For more information about where to collect your free Beat the Street card and how to play, visit www.beatthestreet.me/wolverhampton or follow @BTSWolves on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Mayor of Wolverhampton's Charitable Fund is a charity that raises funds throughout the year. Each year the Mayor will distribute the funds raised to the chosen charities. Over the past 10 years, Mayors have raised over £300,000 for good causes.