The movement aims to encourage physical activity through brisk walking activities as a way to improve the health of those living in the north.

 

People’s Association (PA) Sembawang Central Grassroots Organisations and Health Promotion Board (HPB) launched the ‘Let’s Jalan’ brisk walking movement in Sembawang Central to encourage active living and improve health for those living in the north of Singapore. Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung, who is also grassroots adviser for Sembawang GRC Grassroots Organisations (GROs) (Sembawang Central), joined the event and walked alongside 500 residents in a mass brisk walk activity at Bukit Canberra to kick off the movement.

The movement is a joint effort with SportSG and Active Ageing Centres (AACs) to encourage residents to come together to set up brisk walking clubs and help residents, particularly those who are inactive, to begin and sustain regular physical activity.

A highly accessible activity suitable for individuals of all ages, brisk walking provides many benefits. Taking part in brisk walking can count towards meeting the physical activity recommendations of at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week.

Aerobic activities like brisk walking can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, improve mental health and lower the risk of dementia. Joining brisk walking clubs can also encourage residents and families in the same neighbourhood to connect as they keep healthy together.

Two newly formed brisk walking clubs by Blossom Seeds and TOUCH Community AACs joined the kick-off. Including the two new clubs, there are now seven brisk walking clubs with more than 280 members in Sembawang Central.

To make brisk walking even more accessible, PA is facilitating more seamless coordination among the Residents’ Networks and AACs by allowing Sembawang Central residents to join the brisk walking activities organised by any club. The clubs have also extended their brisk walking activities beyond weekends to include weekdays, thus giving residents even more choices in the type, location and timing of brisk walking activities.

A new wayfinding feature on HPB’s Healthy 365 mobile app will make brisk walking easier for residents. From June 2026, Woodlands and Sembawang Central residents can look forward to the rollout of the feature. It will include location maps of fitness corners, parks, walking routes such as park connectors and heritage trails, along with healthy lifestyle tips on what residents can do at such spaces. Brisk walking clubs can also use the wayfinding feature to plan their walking routes such as incorporating fitness corners to add variety to their brisk walking routine. At the fitness corners, the feature will offer suggestions on how they can use the equipment with visual guides accessible on the app.

The Healthy 365 app will also enable residents to find nearby brisk walking clubs to join, track their step count and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) when using an HPB or compatible tracker.

Residents can earn Healthpoints when they use the wayfinding feature to start exploring nearby spaces and facilities for healthy living and keeping active. Healthpoints will be given when residents digitally “check-in” at designated locations. They will also see a message on the Healthy 365 or lifestyle action they can do at each destination. There will be bonus Healthpoints for residents who have been inactive or new to physical activity, as an encouragement for them to overcome the inertia and embark on an active lifestyle.

Sembawang Central GROs will work with AACs and existing interest groups to identify Brisk Walking Leaders who are passionate about healthy living and are committed to helping others embrace an active lifestyle. The Brisk Walking Leaders will provide peer support to residents, such as assisting them in registering for the activities, using the Healthy 365 app, and encouraging participation. HPB and SportSG will equip them with resources on how to conduct brisk walking safely, monitor physical activity intensity, and guide participants through proper warm-up and cool-down exercises.

 

Schedule of the brisk walking activities in Sembawang Central:

S/N	Venue	Frequency	Time
1.	379C Canberra Drive S750379 (Badminton Court)	Every Tuesday	8pm
2.	Bukit Canberra Community Lawn	Every Thursday	7:45am
3.	513 Wellington Circle S750513	Every Friday	8:30am
4.	Sports in Precinct (Beside Blk 508C Wellington Circle S753508)	Every Sunday	7:15am
5.	107 Canberra Street Link House S750107	Every Sunday	7:30am
6.	120 Canberra Street Bus Stop S750120	Every Sunday	7:30am
7.	588 Montreal Drive S753588 (Outside RN Centre)	Every Sunday	7:30am

 

(** PHOTO CREDIT: Health Promotion Board)