SCIENNES encourages pupils and parents to stride
out this Walk to School Week
Sciennes
is encouraging families to leave the car at home and give walking a go this
Walk to School Week (16-20 May). Thousands
of pupils in every part of Scotland will be taking part, getting active and
transforming their journey to school.
Walking
to school is free, easy and accessible way for children to fit some vital
physical activity into their day to ensure they remain fit and healthy. It also
provides an opportunity for children to learn vital road safety skills and
arrive at school feeling alert and ready to learn. Plus, when children walk to
school there are fewer cars on the roads, reducing air pollution and congestion
and making roads safer for everyone.
Living
Streets Scotland runs the Walk to School campaign, and the charity says parents
and carers find the journey to school less stressful and that they - and their
children - feel healthier and happier.
Over
the past decades, the number of children who walk to school in Scotland has been
falling. However, when schools participate in successful walk to school schemes
like Living Streets’ WoW Scotland (Walk once a Week), they see over 75 per cent
of pupils regularly travelling to school by foot, scooter, cycle or park and
stride.
Chris Thompson, Schools and Projects
Coordinator, Living Streets Scotland said:
“This
May, we want to get the whole of Scotland involved. We’re urging families up
and down the country to give walking a go during Walk to School Week.
“You’ll
be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you. It’s
free, green and easy, and above all it works. We need to encourage children to
get walking now and set in place healthy habits for the future.”
