‘Tommy’ launches Greater Manchester Walk to School Week

Road safety mascot ‘Tommy’ made an appearance in homes across Greater Manchester to launch 2003 Walk to School Week in the area.

The ten districts of Greater Manchester work together to devise their own publicity resources for campaigns throughout the year. This year’s Walk to School resource is a Fun Week Diary, in which children - along with parents/carers - are encouraged to complete activities on their way to and from school. The activities encourage children to become more aware of their local environment and include listening and observation skills that are vital for road safety.

Participating pupils also receive a Tommy ‘I walked to school’ sticker and are invited to enter a competition to design a badge for Walk to School Week 2004.

"The Walk to School initiative aims to highlight to parents the benefits of walking to school and the need to reduce congestion and pollution outside schools," said Josie Wride, chairman of Greater Manchester’s RSO. "Children learn valuable road safety skills while walking to and from school and we hope parents and carers will walk to and from school whenever possible."

All schools that take part in Walk to School Week will receive a ‘Tommy’ commemorative wall clock.