We Are Undefeatable is a national campaign to support the 15 million people who live with one or more long-term health conditions in England.
Launched in August 2019, it aims to help those with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis and Parkinson’s to build physical activity into their lives.
The campaign is led by a collaboration of 16 leading health and social care charities and benefits from our expertise and insight, along with National Lottery funding.
One in four people in England live with a long-term health condition, and those in this group are twice as likely to be inactive, despite evidence that being active can help manage many conditions and reduce the impact and severity of some symptoms.
Even small amounts of activity can make a significant difference to overall health and wellbeing.
The campaign's importance has also been thrown into light by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the resulting lockdown measures put in place and the impact it has had on the activity levels of people with a long-term health condition - more information on which can be found in our report on coronavirus and activity levels.
Our research shows that:
69% of people living with long-term health conditions would like to be more active
66% say it would help manage or improve their condition, with improved mood and wellbeing seen as the biggest benefit (52%).
Nearly a quarter (24%) of people with a long-term health condition feared that physical activity would make their health issues worse and two in five (44%) would like more help and advice on how to be more active.
A quarter of people with a long-term health condition reported being afraid to leave the house as lockdown restrictions eased and that they wouldn't return to return to communal sport and leisure centres until there's a vaccine, or coronavirus is no longer a threat in the UK.
The survey of more than 1,000 adults also revealed that people with long-standing health concerns feel they face some unique barriers:
Over a third of people (36%) cited lack of energy as the main barrier to increasing physical activity; two in five (40%) reported that pain caused by their health condition prevented them from increasing the amount of physical activity they do.
Over a quarter (28%) of people with a long-term health condition reported that the unpredictable nature of their condition made it hard to commit to a routine.
We Are Undefeatable has been launched to inspire, reassure and support people to be active by showing people living with a variety of conditions – both visible and invisible – on their own journeys to being active.
One day, a short walk might be all that’s manageable. For others it might be swimming or getting active at home. It all helps.
The people who feature in the We Are Undefeatable campaign, and many more people with long-term conditions, were involved in its development from the initial research right through to the design of the campaign films.
The charities behind the campaign are: Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Asthma UK, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, British Heart Foundation, British Lung Foundation, British Red Cross, Diabetes UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal Voluntary Service, Stroke Association and Versus Arthritis.
For more information on the campaign, and to become a supporter, please visit the campaign's website.
For all media enquiries, please contact wauteam@webershandwick.com.
People with a long-term health condition are more likely to be inactive than those without. We've collated some of the key research to help break down barriers.
Find out about the charities we're working with as part of the Richmond Group of Charities, to help people with long term health conditions get active.
Moving Healthcare Professionals is a national partnership programme helping healthcare professionals in promoting physical activity to their patients.