Tag Along

We’re delighted to have launched a brand new jogscotland campaign, Tag Along! The initiative will see jogscotland members all over the country writing messages of encouragement to other joggers or would-be joggers, to increase the number of people across Scotland getting active to improve their wellbeing.

All participants have to do is write a message on one of our luggage tags. Each jog group will then tie their tags onto a string of shoelaces, and send them to jogscotland HQ. We’ll assemble them all – let’s see how long we can make our Tag Along thread of encouragement!

Before tying their tag, joggers are invited to be photographed showing the message so it can be posted on social

media, and will take part in special sessions designed to encourage more folk along to the group. Your message might be about how jogging makes you feel, what you’ve gained from joining a jogscotland group, dispelling one of the common anxieties around starting with a new group, or just a simple message of encouragement.

Jog groups are also invited to hold Tag Along sessions, to welcome potential new members along, or share positive messages among members.

Why? We know that one of the most powerful forces in persuading people to take up a more active lifestyle is word-of-mouth. So we’re asking our members to help us spread the word, encouraging their friends and family to Tag Along to their jog scotland group!

For the past two years we’ve been working in partnership with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) to help people across Scotland look after their physical and mental wellbeing. More than 700 jog leaders have completed mental health awareness training, and our groups aim to be supportive, sociable places where people can feel safe to be themselves. Now we want to help even more people get the message that being active with jog scotland is fun and achievable, and can boost their physical and mental wellbeing.

How?

Jog leaders sign their groups up to take part in Tag Along using our online form. You will be sent a digital Tag Along pack by email, a batch of luggage tags in the post, and a return Freepost address.

Groups will host a Tag Along session between mid-March and mid-April. This might be a free taster session/‘bring a friend’ night to encourage new runners. It might include offering ‘jog buddies’ to support beginners, or offering activites that focus on breaking down barriers and encouraging positive conversations. It’s a great time to contact lapsed members and invite them to come along and try again!

The members of each group will fill out a luggage tag using their experiences to encourage others to tag along with them and take part. Joggers will then post photos of their tags on social media using the hashtag #JSTagAlong and tagging jog scotland and SAMH – tag the folk you think might be most likely to tag along in future! Jog leaders and/or individuals can also send us their photos and we’ll share them on the jogscotland social media accounts.