Technology

Posted on March 7, 2019 by staff

Manchester mum secures Sport England funding for app

Technology

A Manchester mum has secured almost £350,000 of National Lottery funding through Sport England for a new app that is designed to get mums back into fitness.

Buump Active is the first social connection platform in the world designed to keep new mums active after having a baby.

Sport England has identified becoming a new mum as one of the key times in life when fitness levels can drop.

The brainchild of Manchester mum-of-two Rebecca Bishop, Buump Active is now accepting pre-sign ups to the platform, which is due for launch in Manchester in April.

After having two daughters and experiencing the social isolation and difficult road back to fitness that being a new mum can bring, Bishop, 36, wanted to develop an easy-to-use app that enabled fellow mums to make friends, meet up, get active and achieve their goals.

“All mums know how difficult it is to regain those post-baby fitness levels, but it’s so crucial to your mental health and physical wellbeing to get active again and not lose that important part of your identity,” she said.

“It can be hard doing it alone, so Buump Active connects new mums and mums to be so they can meet up, get out and get active together.

“It’s so much better when you have friends there to inspire you and keep you accountable. We want mums to Belong, Dream, Believe and Achieve – the Buump Active pillars for success.

“You might want to join your local Parkrun, find a gym buddy or find a friend to accompany you to buggy fitness, but whatever your plans, Buump Active can help.

“From access to live-streamed HIIT classes you can do at home to build your confidence, to suggested friends and great challenges you can be part of, we’ve created a fun, inclusive way to feel like your best you.

“Manchester is my home, so it’s a great privilege to launch Buump Active here. After Manchester, the app will be rolled out throughout the UK on a city by city basis, so I am looking forward to the feedback we receive from fellow Manchester mums!

“We are sure that mums from Manchester will get behind Buump Active, and we can’t wait to see them start sharing their fitness journeys with us.”

Sport England’s director of sport Phil Smith said: “We know that when life changes, activity habits can change too.

“Starting a family comes with big challenges for even the most committed to sport and fitness. Some people find their way back into the routine, but many find it tough to get active again in a way that fits their new life.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, Buump Active will support new mums to start or continue to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of getting active.”

As a business development and philanthropy professional, Bishop has spent much of her career in the Third Sector. She specialises in personal philanthropy: building relationships with individuals who wish to change the world with something they are passionate about.

She was awarded the Business Development Professional of the Year accolade at the Made in Manchester Awards 2015, and she was also recognised as Jo Malone CBE’s Inspirational Woman in Glamour UK Magazine’s International Women’s Day issue in 2015.

Buump Active can be downloaded for free for iOS and Android, and social communities can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.