The Daily Mile in Essex
Driving inclusion and community activation
Expanding a school‑based movement initiative into a wider community, family, and place‑based offer.
The Daily Mile has undergone a significant evolution across Greater Essex, transitioning from a purely school‑based initiative into a wider catalyst for community activation, family engagement, and place‑based collaboration. Through refreshed data, strengthened partnerships, and targeted local support, the programme has grown to engage schools more deeply while opening new opportunities for the broader community.
This work has focused on reducing health inequalities, embedding wider wellbeing benefits, and responding to local needs, ensuring The Daily Mile can reach those audiences who traditionally face greater barriers to movement.
Active Essex has played a central role in evolving The Daily Mile:
Insight‑Led Targeting and Data Reset
A full refresh of Daily Mile data enabled a clear understanding of participation trends across Essex and Thurrock, highlighting both high‑engagement districts and areas with lower uptake or higher deprivation. This now drives targeted support where it is most needed.
Place‑Based Engagement
Active Essex worked closely with place teams, councils, community organisations and SGOs to identify schools ready for relaunch or development. This included tailored assemblies, bespoke campaign materials, and direct engagement with headteachers.
Strengthening Partnerships
Collaboration with councils, SGOs, LMF, ECC PINS and community partners has expanded opportunities, including SEND‑specific approaches, family engagement sessions, and early conversations around community‑led Daily Mile routes.
National Leadership
Essex’s model was showcased nationally through a co‑hosted webinar, positioning the county as an example of effective, inclusive, insight‑driven implementation.
Abbotsweld School - 'Reindeer Run'
Abbotsweld School enthusiastically took part in the Santa Dash as part of The Daily Mile, with both KS1 and KS2 pupils beginning their school day with a run around the playground. The whole school (around 300 pupils_ joined in, and teachers even took part alongside the children, creating a fun, energetic, and fully inclusive event.
Active Essex’s support for The Daily Mile has generated a significant ripple effect across schools and communities, sparking a range of positive developments.
Many schools have relaunched or strengthened their Daily Mile offer after engaging with CAS projects, which in turn has encouraged greater parental and carer involvement through events and family‑focused Daily Mile sessions. Opportunities have expanded beyond the school environment too, with several schools being invited to take part in the Mini London Marathon, offering children an exciting, aspirational milestone to work towards.
Momentum from the programme has also inspired schools to explore junior parkrun links and develop community‑led routes, helping daily movement extend beyond school gates. Additionally, the success of The Daily Mile has opened the door to wider initiatives such as the Active Playgrounds pilot, with schools being connected to national opportunities as a direct result of their engagement.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Accurate Data
Initial discrepancies made it difficult to understand true uptake.
Time
Expanding to community and families takes time.
Variation
Schools vary in capacity, priorities, and understanding of the initiative.
New Audiences
Reaching new audiences requires new relationships.
Reactivating The Daily Mile has boosted physical activity, improved wellbeing, and strengthened connections across schools and communities. Through collaborative, place‑based work, we’re tackling inequalities and ensuring it’s accessible for all. We look forward to expanding its impact and building a lasting legacy for Greater EssexEmma Alderman, Relationship Development Officer
Our priorities include deepening place‑based work to understand and address barriers for non‑engaged schools, increasing overall school engagement, and improving participation consistency across districts.
We will also expand tailored provision for Early Years, SEND, and neurodiverse young people, while strengthening community‑based Daily Mile pathways connected to parkrun and local green spaces. Closer collaboration with place hub teams will ensure The Daily Mile is positioned as a key contributor to wider community wellbeing and activation.
