Meet the Champions

Meet the West Yorkshire Champions

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Since BetterPoints West Yorkshire launched earlier this year, something brilliant has been happening across the region. Real people — from Bradford to Huddersfield, Leeds to Wakefield — have been walking more, ditching the car, jumping on buses and trains, and genuinely changing how they move through life. Every month, we celebrate one (or two!) of them as a West Yorkshire Champion.

Here's the story of our first six.

Jonny, Bradford — January/February Champion

Jonny was ahead of the curve. He'd actually downloaded BetterPoints before it launched in West Yorkshire — so when he spotted the app being promoted at Bradford City's Greener Bantams match, he was straight back on board.

As a waste collector for Bradford Council, Jonny's already on his feet for much of the day. But BetterPoints has changed how he gets to Valley Parade on matchdays too.

"Home games now, I'm walking to the bus stop, leaving the car, and jumping on the bus or the train to the match. And knowing I could win my season ticket just for doing the right thing to get there? That's brilliant."

Living with Type 2 diabetes, Jonny has also found real value in tracking his daily movement. "It's really made me more aware of how much I'm moving each day. For my health that genuinely matters."

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Sammy, Leeds — January/February Champion

Sammy works for a Leeds charity and found out about BetterPoints when his manager dropped it in the work group chat. The initial hook? The chance of a Greggs discount.

"As soon as I heard you could get a discount at Greggs, that was it for me."

But what's kept him engaged is far more than a sausage roll. The app's daily and weekly activity goals have given Sammy a fresh lens on his own movement — and on days when getting out feels like an effort, the rewards provide just the nudge he needs. He's already shared it in his football group chat so his mates can join in too.

"The refer a friend feature is great. I just dropped it in the footy group chat. Why wouldn't you?"

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Susan, Leeds — January/February Champion

Susan from Leeds is turning 70 this year, and she is marking the occasion in remarkable style. After two total knee replacements and a long recovery, she needed a reason to get back on her feet every day. BetterPoints gave her one.

"I'll say to myself, we've got to go for a walk today. I need my averages up!"

Inspired by her nephew's diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes, Susan is training for a 20-mile hike in the Yorkshire Dales to raise money for Diabetes UK — a charity that also happens to be on the BetterPoints app, meaning she can donate her points directly to the cause she's already walking for.

From double knee surgery to birthday Dales hike, Susan is proof that every step can mean something extraordinary.

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Ella, Wakefield — March Champion

Ella works at Wakefield Council and signed up to BetterPoints before most people had even heard of it — and from day one, she's loved how effortlessly it works.

"It automatically picks up my walks which even match what my Apple Watch records, without any input from me. I even went to London recently and it logged all my tube journeys. I have no idea how it does that but I love it!"

The bigger change has been seeing her own travel habits laid out in front of her. Ella now thinks twice before reaching for the car keys — walking to return a parcel, choosing her feet over the driver's seat — and she's even started noticing the flowers around the city on her walks as she gets into gardening at home.

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Danny, Huddersfield — April Champion

Danny came across BetterPoints through his workplace's Travel Plan Network, but it quickly became personal. After a milestone 50th birthday check-up, the advice was simple: move more. The app arrived at exactly the right moment.

He now keeps it running in the background all the time, and has been inspired by the bonus point opportunities popping up for local events — Halifax Market, cultural spots, hidden gems across the region.

"West Yorkshire's a big old place, and you don't realise what's on your doorstep. There's arts, culture, so much going on — just a bus or train ride away."

Danny has been using public transport far more since January and is seriously considering getting rid of his car altogether. Since the start of the year, he's barely covered 150 miles in it. He's already eyeing up the cycling discounts on the app for his next adventure.

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Grace, Kirklees — April Champion

Grace spotted a BetterPoints poster at her college and was intrigued by the idea of making her everyday journeys more rewarding. It's turned out to be more than that.

"I thought it would make my everyday journeys more exciting. What I really like is that it encourages people to be more considerate about the environment, and rewards them in an engaging way that makes them want to be more sustainable."

Grace is now taking public transport more confidently — not just to college, but on days out to big cities with friends too. The CO2 tracker has particularly resonated with her.

"It's very inspiring to see how much you've prevented. It really brings home the difference you're making."

Outside of the app, Grace is passionate about sustainable living in other ways: she buys from charity shops and upcycles secondhand clothing to sell, pushing back against fast fashion one bleached design at a time. A true champion in every sense.

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Could you be our next West Yorkshire Champion? 🌟

Every month, we're looking for the next great story from across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield. Whether you're walking for your health, reducing your carbon footprint, discovering your local area, or simply enjoying the rewards — we want to hear from you.

Share your story in the app when you see the monthly survey, and you could earn 25,000 (£25) BetterPoints for taking part.

Download BetterPoints West Yorkshire and start your own story today. 🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚌

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