Pupils celebrate walk to school benefits
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Pupils across Northumberland have been taking to the streets to mark national Walk to School Week.
Families have been encouraged to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to see the benefits that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.
This year’s challenge, Mission Move, has been encouraging children to travel actively to school every day of the week while meeting friendly cartoon secret agents along the way. Pupils learned about the important reasons to walk or wheel and its benefits for individuals, communities and the environment.
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Travel at Northumberland County Council said: “Walk to School Week is a fantastic opportunity for our children and their families to get outside and get more active.
“Even small steps can have a huge impact on our health and the environment, especially with less cars being on the road.
“It is always good to see the fun and enthusiasm across the county during the week, and I hope people have really seen the benefits of more active travel.”
Each day, the Mission Move challenge taught pupils about five important reasons to walk and the impact it can have – including physical and mental health, sustainability, road safety and community.
Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May.
Tanya Braun, Director of External Affairs and Fundraising, Living Streets said: “Walk to School Week was a fantastic opportunity for families to discover the physical and mental health benefits of walking to school.
Pupils who get active before the school day are happier and find it easier to focus, research shows. And swapping the school run for a walk or wheel takes cars off the road at the busiest times of day, making streets safer and less polluted for everyone.
“Only around 50% of pupils walk to school in the UK, so it’s also a great chance for families to try out a calmer approach to the school day.”
