The benefits of physical activity and how it can help Peterborough residents to live longer and healthier lives are being highlighted in a new campaign.
The council recently published its annual Public Health Report for 2026/27, titled ‘Spring into action: The race to get Peterborough moving’ which has been co-produced with several partners across health, the council and voluntary sector.
The report focuses on physical activity and how it enhances health and wellbeing across the life-course. It is being accompanied by a year-long ‘Peterborough Get Moving’ campaign which will be promoted on the authority’s social media channels.
The campaign will highlight that whilst individual health behaviours are shaped by the social, economic and physical environments people live in, the council and its partners want to inspire everyone to move more and experience the great benefits of regular physical activity.
Our key message is that physical activity reduces the risk of the most common preventable conditions that cause ill health and increase our chances of dying early (such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia, musculoskeletal disorders).
In Peterborough, the average life expectancy at birth is 77.8 years for men and 81.9 years for women. Both are slightly lower than the averages for our local region, the East of England, and for England as a whole.
Cllr Zameer Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health, said: “Whilst the campaign’s core message isn’t new, the serious issues being highlighted such as local life expectancy makes it imperative to take urgent action. This is also vitally important because Peterborough is a diverse city and offers abundant opportunities to get active.
"Our key aim is making physical activity welcoming and accessible for everyone, so that no one is left behind. With all the investment coming into Peterborough through Pride in Place, along with our new swimming pool and sports facilities, the opportunities to get active are increasing. Together, we can make Peterborough a city where everyone has the chance to live healthier, happier, and more active lives.”
The campaign will also emphasise the strong link to physical health and mental wellbeing, supported by published evidence and local case studies. It will also help people to break down the barriers to getting active, such as cost and time, giving practical advice and highlighting local opportunities.
Around two thirds of adults in Peterborough are physically active for more than 150 minutes per week, which is slightly below the national average and means that one in three adults are missing out on the health benefits of movement. Worryingly, less than half of the city's children aged 5-16 years are meeting the physical activity recommendations of seven hours per week.
You can read the annual Public Health Report for 2026/27 on our website and find out more about the campaign and how to get started with boosting your physical activity.
You can also watch a video highlighting why moving more matters for Peterborough on our Youtube account.