How It Started: The Birth of DoingOurBit
The Covid-19 pandemic was a time of immense challenge and change. For Julie Davis, then Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Clinical Research Network West Midlands, it was also the spark for a passion project that would go on to make a significant impact. What began as a simple idea to support her colleagues turned into a movement that reached thousands of NHS staff.
Julie’s initial idea was straightforward but powerful: provide her 190 colleagues with access to free fitness sessions. As healthcare professionals, they were on the front lines of the pandemic, facing unprecedented pressures and stress. Julie knew that maintaining physical and mental wellbeing was crucial, and she wanted to offer them a way to stay fit and healthy during those challenging times.
Word about Julie’s initiative quickly spread, catching the attention of the neighbouring Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. With a workforce of 10,000, they too wanted to offer these fitness sessions to their staff. Suddenly, Julie's small, localised project needed to expand rapidly to accommodate a much larger audience.
Recognising the need for a bigger platform and additional expertise, Julie reached out for help. That’s when founding partners Active IQ, Study Active and fibodo came on board, supported by Action Group. Together, they worked tirelessly to transform Julie’s vision into a reality, creating a platform that could support thousands of NHS staff across multiple organisations.
What started as a passion project in a time of crisis grew into something much larger—DoingOurBit became a symbol of support, collaboration and resilience. Through the efforts of Julie and her partners, thousands of NHS workers were given the tools they needed to stay fit, healthy and better able to continue their vital work during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
DoingOurBit stands as a testament to the power of a simple idea, the importance of community and the impact we can all have when we come together to support one another.