16th September 2026 is National Fitness Day, a reminder that being active doesn’t have to mean going to the gym, running a 10K or playing competitive sport.

For some people, it might mean a walk with a friend, joining a local friendly team, trying something new or finding a way to move a little more throughout the day. What matters most is finding something that works and something that will stick. At NISH, we work with organisations across sport, health and tech that are looking at different ways to help people be more active and improve their overall health.

We all know that making movement part of everyday life is important. Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, while also supporting mental wellbeing, mobility and healthy ageing. But this doesn’t have to be intense exercise, and incorporating walks, bike rides, swimming, gardening, playing with the kids or just spending less time sitting down can make a huge difference.

Barriers like time, cost, confidence, health, work and family commitments can all make it harder to get moving, and just not enjoying sport or exercise is also a factor. So it’s important to have different ways to be active and make them accessible, social and enjoyable.

One of our members, Sport Wales, plays a big role in supporting physical activity across Wales, from grassroots sport and community programmes to initiatives aimed at helping people build activity into everyday life. Its work recognises that there isn’t always one approach that works for everyone.

Another example is MyRounders, a social rounders league that gives adults the chance to get involved in sport in a relaxed, friendly environment. They focus first and foremost on having fun, meeting people and getting active, with no sporting experience needed to join.

The social side of activity is also important, because enjoying what you do and feeling like a part of something inevitably makes it much easier for it to become a habit or a way of life. It also gives a reason to come back, not just a sense of duty.

Other NISH members are working on participation and community sport, technology, research and new approaches to health and wellbeing. Research at Swansea University also helps us understand more about how movement affects our health, both physical and mental wellbeing. That research can help us understand the benefits of being active, and what will encourage people to move more in the first place.