As we find ourselves in possibly the most challenging lockdown yet, Carlisle’s Laura Earl has teamed up with Sport England to embark on a drive to help people stay active through its Join the Movement campaign.

The campaign has been reinvigorated at a time when prioritising exercise is more important than ever. Sport England is determined to keep inspiring the nation with real life, uplifting case studies to help motivate mums, dads, the young and the old to keep active at this time.

The first lockdown was announced just two weeks before Laura had her fourth child, leaving her to give birth on her own without her husband, who also had to return to work offshore shortly after their baby arrived. Laura found herself on her own with three young children and a newborn, attempting to home-school at the same time.

But instead of letting this phase her, Laura turned their one hour of activity outside a day into an adventure hour for her children, to help them stay happy and healthy. She now runs a website where she shares her advice with other parents on how to embrace the outdoors to stay active as a family.

“I was in a bit of a rut, with four young children and feeling a bit restless," he said. "From that I thought ‘I need to do something to get out and about’. My exercise really did change my health and mood.

“Eventually I developed this website and off the back of that, around September I got involved in Sport England’s campaign and it went on from there really.”

Laura is part of the campaign in the hope of inspiring others to stay active for the benefit of their physical and mental health during the pandemic.

The Join the Movement campaign hub has easily accessible resources for all ages and abilities to keep getting active.

Laura added: “I’m not a huge lover of social media, but I wanted to put information out there. I know what it’s like as a mum when you are going for a walk with small children. You are often wondering if it is pram accessible, if there is a cafe, toilets or a car park and so I felt it would be good to set up the website as a sort of online leaflet.

"The website has lockdown walks mapped out with these things in mind.

“One of the most amazing things is people getting in contact to say ‘you have saved my lockdown life’.

“I’m trying to bring that relatable side to things. If I can do it, with four children and an off-shore husband, really anyone can get outside for half an hour.”

The Hiking Household page can be found here: http://thehikinghousehold.com/