WALKING: Pupils step up to challenge

More than 7,500 pupils from 250 classrooms in Northumberland joined in with pupils across the UK to enjoy the many benefits of walking to school.

We know that schools become healthier and happier places when children walk to school.

The Chief Medical Officer recommends that children are active for 60 minutes a day, and walking to school is a free, accessible and easy way for children to contribute to this target.

Despite these benefits, the number of children walking to school is in decline, and there are now just 47 per cent of children making the journey on foot.

At Living Streets, we are committed to reversing this decline and are asking for town and city leaders to prioritise making school walking routes safer to help to prevent problems associated with a lack of walking, including child obesity and air pollution.

Just because the week of celebration is over, it doesn’t mean families have to stop walking.

WOW is our year-round walk to school challenge so they can continue to experience the benefits of walking to school all year. Just visit livingstreets.org.uk/wow to find out more.

Once again, a huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s Walk to School Week.

With your help, we’ll get more children experiencing a healthy and happy walk to school.

Jenny Wiles,

Regional Director (North), Living Streets