ECO-MINDED residents can earn rewards and win prizes for tracking their active and sustainable travel when moving about d istrict.
The Choose How You Move in Warwick District challenge, in partnership with BetterPoints, is free to join and participate in, and aims to encourage residents across the district to get active and choose a sustainable means of travel when out and about anywhere in the district.
Participants earn ‘BetterPoints’ for each sustainable journey they make, which can be converted to high street vouchers to redeem in big name or independent shops such as Smithery, Torry’s Hardware, Zero Store or Bread & Co. Alternatively, points can be donated to a range of charities including Warwickshire Pride and The Myton Hospices.
The challenge, running since January 2021, has now been extended to next August due to its success.
More than 1,100 people have frequently used the app to track over 500,000 miles of sustainable travel, saving 71 tonnes in carbon emissions. Around 6.4 million BetterPoints have been earned so far, worth over £6,400 in redeemable vouchers.
The challenge is delivered by Warwick District Council in partnership with BetterPoints, an award-winning behaviour change app. The initiative complements WDC’s aims to encourage active communities, improve air quality, and support town centres and the local economy.
Users of the BetterPoints app also benefit from a boost to their health and fitness by monitoring their levels of physical activity through the app.
The challenge consists of locally focused campaigns like prizes and boosted rewards for green and healthy travel, plus special events such as TravelWise Week, during which a Leamington resident won the top prize of a European city break.
Users will soon be able to exchange their BetterPoints for vouchers at Warwick district markets operated by CJ’s Events Warwickshire, plus there will be £300 of prize vouchers for the markets between now and Christmas.
WDC climate change spokesman Alan Rhead, Cabinet member for Climate Change, said: “It’s clear to see that choosing sustainable travel, even in place of one or two trips you would normally make by car, can make a big difference to the climate as well as your own health and wellbeing. Not only that, but during the current cost of living crisis it’s even more beneficial as not only can you save money on fuel, you’re also rewarded with points for ditching the car.
“The challenge also provides a unique opportunity for both visitors and businesses. Choosing to travel sustainably can improve your health as well as others by actively reducing emissions in the district.
“For businesses, it’s a chance to entice customers, both old and new, through their doors with bespoke offers and incentives to encourage active travel and generate that extra and much needed business.”
Local businesses are encouraged to visit chym.betterpoints.uk/stories/high-street to find out more about the free-to-join scheme and sign up to support it.
To start earning rewards, residents just need to download the BetterPoints app from the App Store or Google Play, register and join the programme.
