Active Soles

Active Soles is described as a vibrant movement set to transform the way we work, aims to support teams to be more active by filling their workplaces with energy and motion.  People working in offices are spending up to 75% of their working hours sitting which increases their risk of a variety of health conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Evidence shows that even if you exercise regularly, but spend the majority of the rest of your day sitting down, you can still be at risk of the health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The public sector leaders involved believe Active Soles can change the culture of workplaces by allowing employees to wear comfortable shoes they can move in more easily.

The team behind Active Soles said:

“What we wear changes the way we think and behave. Wearing comfortable shoes means we are more likely to take build movement into our day by taking those extra steps, opting for the stairs instead of the lift, or arranging walking meetings.” 

The first organisations in Wales to get on board with Active Soles in Wales are Actif North Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff Council, and Vale of Glamorgan Council.  Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are just about to launch Active Soles.

The idea for Active Soles came from the Public Health Wales Early Careers Network. This is where Public Health Practitioners throughout Wales share good practice and learning in spotlight sessions.

Alex Wood, Senior Public Health Practitioner from Cardiff &Vale University Health Board, presented how Active Soles was successfully delivered in Cardiff and Vale Local Public Health Team and how it made a difference to employee’s physical and mental health.

Rachel Reed (CTM Public Health Practitioner, Healthy Weights Team) attended the session and thought this could be embedded into CTM due to Active Soles aligning with the new Healthy Travel Charter, and the Whole Systems Approach to a Healthy Weight, which are the key areas for the CTM Healthy Weights Team. Active Soles also aligns with the Healthy Weight Healthy Wales Strategy areas of focus. The idea was submitted by Rachel into the Simply Do Platform and is being launched in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in 2025.

To find out more about the Healthy Weight team visit: Healthy Weight - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

To find out more about active Soles visit: Active Soles - Make Your Move | Gwyneud Eich Symudiad or watch the below video from the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: Active Soles - Make Your Move | Gwyneud Eich Symudiad