When we designed Steps, Stories and Strength, we made a simple promise: physical activity should be welcoming, culturally relevant, and free. No gym required. No prior fitness needed. Just community, movement, and the belief that when families move together, something lasting is built.

Between May and August 2026, we delivered on that promise across three sessions in Loughborough and Leicestershire. Here is what happened.

Session 1: Beacon Hill, 4th May 2026

We opened the programme on Bank Holiday Monday with a 3-mile family walk through the stunning Beacon Hill Country Park, in partnership with FitFab Ladies. Thirty-three participants, 16 adults and 17 children, walked together for over two hours, clocking more than 13,000 steps. A minivan ran from Loughborough town centre so no family was left behind. We finished with healthy snacks in the fresh air, and nobody wanted to leave.

One participant, Charma, registered on the morning of the event and told us afterwards: "It's been a while I've done this and I'm really happy, and even the food. This was eating food without feeling the guilt that comes when you snack."

Another, Obinna, said: "It's good getting out of the house in the morning and exercising and working with the family. I'll definitely come back again."

Session 2: The ARC Community Hub, 11th July 2026

Session 2 brought over 45 participants together with Chapter 12 Running Club and Community for a 4K walk through Loughborough's natural areas, followed by an afternoon of barbecue, music, and an introductory Rumba class led by Brain Adeleke. Members of Chapter 12 shared openly how their weekly walks had transformed not just their fitness, but their mental health. Within days of the session, one participant had started doing Rumba at home every day using YouTube videos.

Session 3: The ARC Community Hub, 31st August 2026

The finale brought Rumba back, bigger and better, alongside a health and wellbeing talk from Dr Sam Adema. The room was full of energy, laughter, and the kind of honest exhaustion that only comes from really moving your body. Phil told us he had the deepest nap of his life that evening. Moses woke up aching in the best possible way.

What we learned

Over 100 individuals took part across the three sessions. Every Session 3 feedback respondent said they were very likely to be more physically active, and every one said they would definitely come back to a future Karibani event.

But the number that means most to us is this: zero. Zero pounds charged to any participant. Every session was free. Every family was welcome. Every barrier we could remove, we removed.

Dr Sam Adema of Chapter 12 summed it up perfectly: "Plans are in the pipeline to make these sessions a regular feature of our activities."

That is the legacy of Steps, Stories and Strength. Not a programme that ended in August. A movement that is just beginning.

Thank you to FitFab Ladies, Chapter 12 Running Club and Community, Brain Adeleke, Dr Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen, Dr Sam Adema, Osas Adetutu, and every participant who showed up.

Steps, Stories and Strength was supported by the Physical Activity Community Grant, funded by the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group (LLHRG) and the Centre for Ethnic Health Research (CEHR), University of Leicester.