Walk to School Week roundup

UK organisers asked parents and carers to give their child the red carpet treatment during International Walk to School Week 2004, 4 - 8 October.

Organisers estimate more than two million children and their parents across the UK left their cars at home and walked to school in support of the event. The campaign gives school communities an opportunity to be part of a global event celebrating the benefits of walking.

Jo Pike , national Walk to School campaign coordinator said: "This year's Walk to School Week focused on raising the status of walking as a way of encouraging more children and parents to leave the car at home and walk to and from school."

National TravelWise association chairman, Tim Malynn said: "The week's topic of 'Fun and Friendship' was an ideal theme showing what makes walking to school attractive. Walking to school means that children can learn road safety on their journey, get some of the exercise they need - and it cuts down the amount of cars doing the school run."

Here's a brief round up of some of the Walk to School events that took place across the UK:

The London Borough of Brent and Birmingham City Council worked with the national campaign coordinators to raise the status of walking to school. On Monday 4 October St Francis Primary and Nursery School, Birmingham and Sudbury Primary School, London Borough of Brent rolled out the red carpet on the route to school as part of the national launch of the week.

Pupils from Bullion Lane Primary School and Newker Primary School, Chester-le-Street stepped out in style. Durham county councillor Brian Ebbatson accompanied the children walking the route to their respective schools. Several other schools across County Durham also participated in the event.         

Youngsters from Hasland Junior School, Chesterfield kicked off Walk to School Week with the support of players from Chesterfield Football Club and the club mascot Chester the Mouse. Hasland Junior School has taken part in three Walk to School events since the scheme was launched and received a Bronze Walk to School Trophy.

A group of children from Rossendale celebrated by going to school on a rather unusual 'bus'. Pupils from Crawshawbooth Primary School organised their own walking buses and learned about their benefits through classroom activities. The 'buses' cut congestion by bringing parents, teachers and children together to form a walking group with designated meeting points along a pre-planned route. Around 120 children, parents and staff got on the first 'bus' and it is hoped that the buses will continue to run through the school term.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's mayor Madge Moses made an early start to her duties last month when she had breakfast with children at Lockwood Primary School to launch the borough's International Walk To School Week. 180 children attended and seven-year-old pupils Ben Peak and Kimberley Ealand featured on hundreds of posters promoting the event. The school is now ready to start work on its own Travel Plan as headteacher Julie Green explained: "We're looking at safer journeys to school on a morning, trying to get more children involved in walking. It's a difficult route for a lot of children, who live in the outlying villages so we're looking at other methods of travel as well as the bus."

Children and parents from the Royal Borough were also encouraged to leave their cars at home as Kensington and Chelsea took part in the national campaign - the first time that such a scheme has taken place in the area at this time of the year.

'Walk to School' is a campaign jointly run by Living Streets and TravelWise. For further information contact Jo Pike, campaign coordinator on 0207 8201010 or email: jo@livingstreets.org.uk.

Footnote: The 'Walk to School' website is looking for suitable photos taken during 'Walk to School Week' activities to publish on the site. To submit your pictures go to www.iwalktoschool.org/quotes/submit_photo.htm