Press Release
Successful 'Walk Your Way' to School this May
This May, children right across Shetland were striding out on the pavements as they took part in a very important event: National Walk to School Week 2010.
This year, the theme was ‘Walk Your Way’ which intended to encourage parents and children to get to know their local neighbourhood better by exploring it on foot. In addition to learning more about their local environment, children would be able to learn to orientate themselves on the journey to and from school, as well as learning vital road safety skills and keeping active! Shetland has supported Walk to School Week this year by providing resources funded by Sustrans, to the 18 Schools who expressed an interest in taking part throughout May.
National charity Living Streets works to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets around the UK. They run the highly successful Walk to School campaign, which encourages over two million children, parents and teachers to leave their cars at home and walk to school.
Over the past two decades, the number of children who walk to school has dropped from 62% to 48%, with an enormous 43% being driven to school in cars - despite the fact that the majority of primary school pupils live within a 20 minute walk of their school.
Councillor Iris Hawkins, Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Panel said:
“I am pleased that the events held in 18 schools across Shetland have been successful over the month of May. We had over 1300 pupils taking part in this initiative promoting Road Safety and the health benefits of walking. We have seen a large increase in the amount of pupils walking to schools taking part in this initiative and we would hope that this will continue over the coming months.”
Elaine Skinley, Road Safety Officer said:
“During Walk to School Week this year, we asked parents and children to give it a go and to ‘Walk Your Way’ to school. It’s already established that walking is key in fighting childhood obesity, but it can also be beneficial to children in other ways, helping them learn vital road safety skills, to interact with their local environment and to become ‘streetwise’ and develop independence. 18 schools took part in various weeks over the month of May, if the pupils couldn’t walk the whole way to school the teachers organised walks around the school.”
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“Young children are often bundled from front door to car door without the opportunity to get out on foot, to learn about road safety and to get to know their local neighbourhood.”
“Often parents say they don’t have the time to walk, but many people underestimate the time it takes to travel by car or public transport and overestimate how long it takes to walk. By walking, children can be taught important road safety messages, feel part of their community and gain the confidence they deserve.”
“Even if you feel you live too far to commute the whole way on foot, why not try to ‘park and stride’? You can find somewhere to park away from the school and walk the rest of the way. Not only will you miss the rush to find a parking space, but you will also help ease congestion around the school and fit in some exercise for you and your children.”
For more information about national Walk to School Week, please visit www.walktoschool.org.uk.
Contact Elaine Skinley, Road Safety Officer, Shetland Islands Council, 4 Market Street, Lerwick.
Tel: 01595 744560
Email: Elaine.skinley@shetland.gov.uk