Durham County Council is offering three months unlimited access to its leisure centres for free as part of its Move campaign.

Available this month, the new Thrive offer gives you 15 months of full membership at one of the many centres across the county for the price of 12. With facilities ranging from swimming pools and sports halls to fully equipped gyms, plus a packed programme of classes including yoga, Pilates and Bodybalance,  Bootcamp, Kettlebells and HiiT, you can be sure to find an activity that suits you.

After the disappointment of last year’s lockdown Christmas, we all want to make this festive period one to remember. But, as well all know, too much sitting around and over-indulgence can take its toll leaving you feeling sluggish, bloated and generally out of sorts.

The Northern Echo:

Instead of abandoning exercise this festive period, why not make a commitment to keep moving most days of week? Whether that’s a refreshing walk with friends or family in one of our many parks and open spaces or going for a swim at your local leisure centre, getting out of the house and moving more will do wonders for your mood, not to mention your digestion after all that rich food.

Here are just some of the activities you can get involved in for free over this festive period to boost your physical and mental wellbeing:

  • Walking - a great way to get active, whatever your level of fitness. Find out more about walking (and running) in the county, including information on local routes as well as coast and countryside walks, guided walks and how to find clubs in your area.
  • Parkrun - run by volunteers, these free 5K events take place every Saturday throughout the county. Open to anyone and everyone, people of all ages and running abilities take part in these friendly and popular events. You can run, jog or walk the course. Use Parkrun's handy event map to find your nearest event.
  • Couch to 5K - thousands of people have benefited from this running plan designed for absolute beginners from the NHS. The plan involves three runs a week and starts with a mix of running and walking to gradually build up your fitness and stamina. Whether you've never run before or you just want to get more active, Couch to 5K is a free and easy way of getting fitter and healthier.
  • MyWellness App - the free Mywellness app allows you to connect with your local leisure centre to access free virtual classes on demand, Couch to 5K as well as personalised workout plans that you can do at home and outdoors.

Visit our activity finder at Find your Move to find out what other free activities are available in your local area to keep you moving this Christmas and beyond.