Working out can create a much bigger impact than you think

With plans for the 2026 Workout for the World in full swing, we sat down with Les Mills Impact Manager, Jo Perkins, to explore the important work Les Mills is doing to create a fitter planet, the long-standing partnership with UNICEF, and how you can be part of a global movement creating meaningful change for children who need it most.

‍

Les Mills talks a lot about creating a fitter planet. What does that actually mean in practice?

“Creating a fitter planet goes well beyond helping people work up a sweat. At Les Mills, we want to help build a world where people and communities are protected and cared for. That’s been part of our DNA for a long time. In fact, way back in 2007, our founders, Phillip and Jackie Mills, even wrote a book about it (it’s called Fighting Globesity and it addresses the many links between personal health and environmental sustainability).

For us, the fitter planet ethos has guided decades of work. From tree planting to volunteering to providing free classes for young people with BORN TO MOVE™, the goal is to connect the global fitness community to meaningful causes.And one of the most rewarding ways we’ve done that is through our partnership with UNICEF.”

‍

Why is UNICEF such an important partner?‍

“We have a large global community of clubs, instructors, and fitness lovers, and we want to use that collective power for good. UNICEF has the global reach and expertise to respond to emergencies such as conflict and natural disasters, as well as the ability to drive long-term change. We feel so lucky to be able to support UNICEF so that together we can provide things like life-saving food, shelter, and medicine to kids when they need it most.”

What does Les Mills’ work with UNICEF look like?

“It began in 2017 with the idea of harnessing the energy and commitment of the Les Mills community to help children. Phillip Mills, Les Mills founder and CEO, and Rachael Newsham, Les Mills Creative, traveled with UNICEF to a refugee camp in South Sudan. And in a separate trip, I traveled to Cambodia. These communities are full of incredibly resilient people and seeing first-hand the challenges faced by young people and their families was incredibly impactful. Also seeing UNICEF’s work in action was a powerful experience and reinforced our desire to work with them to make a difference.

Our early efforts focused on building water pumps in Ethiopia, giving thousands of people access to clean, safe water without the need to walk for hours each day. In 2017 and 2019, clubs all over the world held fundraising events, and tens of thousands of instructors and participants came together, raising more than US$2million.

Today, our support is focused on UNICEF’s Greatest Need Fund, allowing the funds we raise to be used flexibly, responding to crises following conflict and natural disaster.”

‍

‍

Where is the support needed most right now?

“Right now, over one in six children is growing up in a conflict zone. When war or natural disasters hit, kids often feel the impact first. In an instant, they can lose their homes, their schools, and the people they rely on most. On top of that, things like food, clean water, healthcare, and education become harder to access. The good news is our global community has the power to make a real and measurable impact for the kids who need support the most.”

“Over one in six children is growing up in a conflict zone … our global community has the power to make a real and measurable impact for the kids who need support the most.”

This is where Workout for the World comes in?

“Yes. Workout for the World is happening on June 20, 2026 – and we want as many people as possible to get involved – moving their bodies and directly contributing to children’s wellbeing by supporting UNICEF.”

What does Workout for the World involve in 2026

“We’ve taken all the learnings from our previous activations to make this the biggest and simplest fundraising activation yet!

On June 20, clubs across the globe will run Workout for the World‑themed release launches. Each of our 100,000 Instructors will receive all they need to teach the latest LES MILLS™ workouts, complete with special Workout for the World tracks created by the team at Aesium Music House.

We’re encouraging clubs to create a fundraising page at workoutfortheworld.org.nz, share their event details, and start rallying their community to take part. Anyone who attends a club’s event will simply be asked to donate.

We also wanted to include the hundreds of thousands who work out with us at home. So we’re creating a celebratory mash-up workout featuring special tracks created for Workout for the World. This will be available after the event day, and anyone will be able to access it for free using the LES MILLS+ app, or via YouTube.”

How can you get involved in Workout for the World?

If you’re a gym-goer or at-home exerciser go to workoutfortheworld.org.nz. Find a club near you, join a Workout for the World class on June 20, 2026, and make a donation.

If you're an Instructor chat with your club’s leadership and volunteer to help run your Workout for the World event. Ensure your club creates a fundraising page and uses the promotional assets in Marketing Studio to spread the word. Hype it up in class and help get your community involved. (There are also exciting incentives available for both Clubs and Instructors. Details can be found here.)

‍

Learn more about how Les Mills is working to preserve and protect our people, our planet and our communities here.

‍