Challenge FAQs

Thinking of joining the challenge or have some questions?
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Read on to find out more

What is Step Up Sheffield?

Step Up is a free-to-join rewards programme for staff and students at the University of Sheffield. It rewards sustainable travel to the University and encourages regular, healthy activity for students and staff.

How has Step Up been funded?

The University of Sheffield uses some of the revenue from car parking charges to reward people for not driving, so there's less traffic around the University and more spaces available for people who have to drive.

Why should I take part?

BetterPoints is an award-winning app that encourages people to get active by walking, running, wheeling or cycling more, for commuting purposes or leisure. Taking part will allow you to earn rewards for travelling in active and environmentally friendly ways. You can spend your BetterPoints at University catering outlets or donate them to charity. The secure and anonymised data your participation provides will also help the University to improve provision for active and sustainable transport, helping to reduce its carbon emissions and make Sheffield a cleaner, greener city for everyone.

How can I get involved?

Check out the Join Step Up page, or in a nutshell:

Download the free BetterPoints app from the App Store or Google Play.

Register on the app - make sure you use your @sheffield.ac.uk email address.
Join the Step Up challenge.
Turn tracking on in the top right-hand corner of the app (you can leave it on to automatically record or turn it on and off at the start and end of your trip)
Travel to the university sustainably, watch your BetterPoints clock up, then treat yourself to a coffee on campus!

How can I earn points or win a prize?

You can earn points and win lots of fantastic prizes for travelling actively and sustainably. Check out all the rewards here.

What is the difference between BetterTickets and BetterPoints?

BetterPoints can be earned by tracking eligible activities - over time they add up. Your points balance appears in the menu on the left of the app. Once you’ve collected enough points you can redeem them against vouchers in the catalogue on the app or donate them to charity. Every 1,000 BetterPoints are worth £1.

BetterTickets are prize draw entries earned for doing a specific activity. The tickets you earn automatically enter you into our weekly or monthly prize draws. The more tickets you earn, the more chance you have of winning. Prizes can include pots of BetterPoints and specific things such as bike helmets.

What can I spend my points on?

You can give your points to your favourite charity or spend them at University of Sheffield catering outlets by tapping Redeem.

Can I take part if I use a wheelchair, and if so, how do I record my journeys?

Yes! All kinds of wheelchairs can be recorded as 'wheeling' in our app. Due to the motion sensors inbuilt in your device, and our algorithms in the app, it may assume you are cycling, rather than wheeling. In your timeline, after completing your journey, you will be able to amend this to wheeling and your journey will be updated. You will be awarded the same amount of points/tickets as walking, running or cycling journeys.