A CHARITY'S campaign to help people stay active has returned for a second year.

Brighton charity and community centre The Crew Club launched "Choose to Move" last year and offers walks and runs around East Brighton throughout the year, organised by qualified leaders and for all ages and abilities.

As part of the initiative, a "One Million Steps" programme was set up on January 1 for a month, and the charity says it has been a huge success.

The aim was for all participants to hit a shared target of one million steps by the end of January, with them sharing their daily step counts.

Just two weeks into the project the target was smashed and by January 31 over 1.9 million steps had been reached.

The project aims to help improve physical and mental wellbeing and is also helps people meet and connect with other people.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "One of the participants recently moved to the area with her young children and felt quite isolated without family and friends.

"Joining the Choose to Move group has transformed her life as she now has friends and is part of a really supportive group."

On January 25 one of the regular walks was attended by local BBC Radio Sussex presenter Allison Ferns, who took part in one of the 1k walks around the Whitehawk countryside alongside over 20 local residents.

Allison said: “I loved taking part in the Choose to Move walk as there's no doubt that a bit of exercise certainly makes you feel better.

"I soon realised that the Crew Club walks are more than just that though; they are an opportunity to meet others and in fact I was chatting so much I didn't even notice how far I'd walked."

There are three walks organised weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Weekly runs also take place on Wednesday mornings, as well as "buggy walks" on Tuesday mornings where parents can bring their children in pushchairs.

The Crew Club, of 26 Coolham Dr, Brighton BN2 5QW, is now encouraging others to get in touch and sign up for Choose to Move this year.

To find out more go to www.choosetomove.co.uk or email: Noah@crewclub.co.uk

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.