Northumberland pupils pitch to improve active travel
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Secondary school pupils from across Northumberland came together to pitch their active and sustainable travel ideas to a panel of special guests in a Dragon’s Den-style event.
As part of the Active Travel Ambassador (ATA) programme, pupils aged 11 upwards from Cramlington Learning Village, Whytrig Middle School, Seaton Sluice Middle School, Barndale House, Barndale By-the-Sea, KEVI and Collingwood School and Media Arts College attended the council chambers at Northumberland County Council’s headquarters at County Hall in Morpeth, each secured £200 for their schools - with Barndale By-the-sea's ideas being awarded an extra £50 bonus - to bring their plans to life and improve their school.
Ideas ranged from bike bus schemes, park and stride campaigns, banner competitions, reward cards as well as confidence building and highlighted real tangible improvements that can be made to boost active travel and road safety in their local communities.
Cllr Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for active travel at Northumberland County Council said: “It’s fantastic that we can host important events like these which help enrich the minds of our young people.
“It is so inspiring to see the work the schools have put into their campaigns and ideas, and I am immensely proud of how passionate each one of them is in making positive changes within their school and communities.
“I look forward to seeing these ideas come to life and many more events such as this being held in the future.”
The national ATA programme aims to help young people develop skills in project management, presenting and public speaking, leadership, data collection and analysis as well as marketing and promotion through the development of peer-led behaviour change campaigns.
Lou Millington, Active Travel Ambassador Coordinator at North East – Modeshift said: “It’s been wonderful to see the pupils’ passion come through in their presentations, and their confidence grow with each session.
“Their campaigns cover different priorities based on the pupils’ research, including supporting independent bus travel, encouraging more pupils to walk, wheel and cycle, and making active travel a normal part of everyday life.”
