Get better health and wellbeing with BetterPoints

Buckinghamshire Council is reminding residents that there is no better time to get active with BetterPoints. The free health and wellbeing app has been helping thousands of people in the county to move more and make simple but effective lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing. Now could be the perfect time for new users to start as a range of extra incentives have recently been added.

BetterPoints is an easy-to-use mobile app that motivates users to be more active and offers incentives in the form of points which can then be converted into vouchers to spend in local shops or given to local charities as a monetary donation.

Since the initiative launched earlier this year, more than 2000 residents in Bucks have downloaded the app and been using it, earning points when they walk, cycle, run or visit a leisure centre. The simple tool encourages people to make healthier lifestyle choices to boost their health and wellbeing.

Extra points are on offer for residents who would like to lose weight or give up smoking when they access support via Be Healthy Bucks. Be Healthy Bucks is Buckinghamshire's free health and wellbeing service to help residents make small changes to lead a healthy life. They offer stop smoking support, healthy weight programmes, NHS health checks and support to cut down on alcohol.

You can go one better with Better Points during November and December. A range of incentives have been added where users can redeem their Better Points for shopping vouchers to help towards the cost of Christmas.

There are also weekly ‘Gift of Giving’ prize draws where Better Points users will be entered to win 10,000 points – worth £10 – and a £20 donation to a local charity of their choice.

Angela Macpherson, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “I can’t recommend BetterPoints highly enough. It’s so simple to use and the more you can see your points building as you keep active, the more you are encouraged to keep up the good work. Having your efforts transformed into vouchers, discounts or donations is an added benefit. If you haven’t tried it yet, do download the app today and start earning your points straightaway.”

According to current data for Buckinghamshire, one adult in every five is currently inactive, spending less than 30 minutes a week doing any form of activity. A lack of physical activity can lead to serious health concerns such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. It can also have a long-lasting impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Find out more and download the BetterPoints app today.