The Daily Mile Foundation
The Daily Mile Foundation is a UK registered charity that was formed in 2016 by Elaine Wyllie MBE, with the support of our Lead Partner, INEOS.
Our Vision
A world where every child can enjoy the benefits of daily physical activity.
Our Mission
Helping children thrive by supporting schools and nurseries to embed a culture of physical activity into their daily routine.
Our Approach
Schools and nurseries are where children spend much of their time—making them the perfect place to build lifelong healthy habits.
But we know there are barriers—time constraints, competing priorities, and logistical challenges. That’s where The Daily Mile comes in.
✔ We work with teachers, schools, and partners to make daily movement simple and accessible.
✔ We remove barriers—no equipment, no kit, no pressure, no hassle and no cost.
✔ We empower schools to create healthier environments, ensuring every child gets the opportunity to move more, feel healthier, and learn better.
By investing in children’s well-being now, we’re tackling some of the biggest global health challenges for the future.
Why Schools Love The Daily Mile
Fun
Run, wheel, or walk outdoors with your friends, at your own pace. It’s social, non-competitive and every child succeeds.
Simple + Free
Just 15 minutes, at least three times a week- it fits seamlessly into the school day! No extra prep, no equipment, no set up or tidy up and no need to change into kit.
Inclusive
Every child takes part – regardless of age, ability, or circumstances. The Daily Mile creates a shared experience where everyone feels that they belong.
Proven Benefits
Improves children’s fitness, focus and overall well-being. Regular participation boosts concentration in class, strengthens peer and teacher-child relationships, helping every child to thrive.
Our History and How it all Began
In 2012, Scottish headteacher Elaine Wyllie MBE noticed that many of her children were struggling with fitness. Elaine’s response was to encourage all children to run around the school grounds for 15 minutes each day. The result? Fitter, happier, healthier, more engaged children.
The Daily Mile was born and since then:
✔ 2016
INEOS recognised Elaine’s passion for The Daily Mile and committed to being title sponsor of the initiative. With their support, the Daily Mile Foundation was established and based at the INEOS offices in London, England.
✔ 2024
More than 20,000 schools and nurseries worldwide have joined the movement - that's more than 5 million children actively benefiting from better fitness, focus, and well-being—in just 15 minutes a day..
✔ The future
The Daily Mile Foundation is more committed than ever to the vision of a world where every child can enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity. Our children are experiencing an unprecedented health crisis in many parts of the world. We are failing our children and the time to take action is now.
We know that small actions, such as introducing 15 minutes of physical activity during class time at school or nursery, can make a positive impact on the health and well-being of our children. We will be advocates for active learning environments, supporting educational leaders and teachers so that they are empowered to create the behavioural change that will lead to a healthier generation of children and young people.
Backed by research, embraced by schools, and growing every day.
The Daily Mile from founder, Elaine Wyllie
Latest News
Find out what’s going on at The Daily Mile Foundation and across our community.
