More cash for walking bid - The Evesham Observer

More cash for walking bid

Evesham Editorial 25th May, 2021   0

A GREEN scheme aimed at encouraging children to walk to school has received £2.1million in Government support.

The funding will help walking charity Living Streets extend its Walk to School Outreach programme to more than 1,000 primary schools across the country.

The project, backed by Department for Transport (DfT) support since 2017, aims to promote the health and environmental benefits of walking to school for children aged five to 11 and their families. It plays an integral role in the Government’s ambition to ensure more than half of children aged five to 10 are walking to school by 2025.

The funding comes during Walk to School Week and is part of the DfT’s drive to enable more forms of active travel as the Government builds back greener from the pandemic.




It builds on the £1million funding the department provided to Living Streets in 2020/21 to deliver a Walk Back to School programme for the academic year, extending the charity’s reach to support children returning to school last autumn.

Mary Creagh, Living Streets’ chief executive, said: “It’s vital that we scale up for walking to build back better for children and families after a difficult year.


“Living Streets’ walk to school programme is increasing the number of children walking to school and reducing cars, congestion and air pollution around school gates.

“This funding will help more pupils enjoy the fresh air, freedom and fun that walking to school brings.”

The Walk to School Outreach programme has been very successful in recent years and in 2019 to 20 it saw walking to school rates increase by 40 per cent for new schools that took part, with increased walking rates sustained for existing project schools.

The funding announced last week has helped Living Streets celebrate Walk to School Week by supporting the distribution of challenge packs to schools across the country to get involved.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Evesham Observer newspaper.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.