Sheffield city centre shoppers dazzled by 80s-style fitness flash mob in aid of Children in Need

Organised by the Sheffield-based publisher Twinkl in collaboration with Sculpt Fitness Studio, the troupe performed the YMCA, Macarena and Cha Cha Slide, as well as completing a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout routine on Friday, November 15.

The flash mob, which consisted of over 25 people dressed in 80s-style fitness gear, began with just one person performing just outside Debenhams on The Moor before they were gradually joined by Twinkl team members, who had been waiting inconspicuously around the area.

The event formed part of Twinkl’s fundraising efforts for BBC Children in Need.

A number of bystanders also joined in with a final surprise appearance from Pudsey Bear who joined in the routines.

The HIIT segment was led by Jody Simpson, director of Sculpt Fitness Studio. She said: “We loved working with Twinkl to plan and hold the flash mob. It was great to see the confused and amazed faces of people walking by, especially when Pudsey Bear appeared.

“We’re really proud to be using fitness to raise money for such a great cause and hope that everyone who watched, joined in and donated had fun.”

Twinkl, the Official Education Partner of BBC Children in Need, has organised various fundraising efforts for the charity including gaining a Guinness World Record on November 7 at the Crucible Theatre with schools, choirs and businesses from across the city,

The event was inspired by Big Morning Move, held by Joe Wicks and BBC Children in Need earlier in the day in Manchester.

Joe Wicks is the charity’s first-ever Schools Ambassador and hosted the workout to encourage children to get together and do something to help change the lives of children in need in the UK.

Jonathan Seaton, co-founder and CEO of Twinkl said: “We are so proud to be supporting BBC Children in Need. Our team and the directors from Sculpt Fitness have done an amazing job of fundraising, and we are extremely grateful that members of the public joined in and kindly donated too.

“We wanted to organise the flash mob because it fits in perfectly with the other activities happening today that are encouraging people to get active and have fun whilst raising money for BBC Children in Need.”

Twinkl has also created a range of free educational and fundraising resources with the charity, available to download here.