BackMinister launches WoW funding
FUNDING BOOST TO GET KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL
A scheme that encourages families to ditch the car and walk their children to school at least once a week will receive an £800,000 boost from the Government, Public Health Minister Gillian Merron announced today.
The ‘Walk Once a Week’ scheme run by national charity Living Streets, rewards children who walk to school one day a week with a collectable metal badge for each month they take part.
The £800,000 funding will be used to expand the scheme to at least 900 more schools with a focus on the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Tyne and Wear, where there are higher numbers of overweight and obese children.
The scheme, which has been running for six years and operates in every London borough, has been an overwhelming success so far. Fifty-nine per cent of girls and sixty per cent of boys in participating schools take part in the scheme and walk to school at least one day a week.
Speaking at George Spicer Primary School in Enfield, where pupils are taking part in the scheme, Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:
“Ditching the car and walking to school is an easy way for children and parents to be more active.
“Living Street’s ‘Walk Once A Week’ scheme is doing a great job at helping families get out and about by foot. The £800,000 of Government funding I am announcing today will mean even more kids can get active on their way to school. By walking the journey to school it can count towards the 60 active minutes children need every day and the 30 minutes mums and dads should get five times a week
“The scheme supports the Government’s Walk4Life campaign, part of our national Change4Life movement helping families to ‘eat well, move more and live longer’.”
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“Increasing activity levels and reducing the risk of obesity is one of the major priorities for anyone involved in children’s health or education today. But it’s often hard to know what actually works, and what to prioritise from tight budgets.
“The Walk Once a Week Scheme is such a simple idea and so easy to implement – we hope that schools and local authorities up and down the country will get involved, and get more children up and down the country walking.
“We are very excited that the Department of Health has recognised the value of Walk Once a Week in the fight against obesity, and we look forward to working with them to reach more children in priority areas.
“Walking to school is one of the best ways to get everyday activity into families’ lives- good for health, and making a positive difference in reducing congestion, pollution and carbon. It’s also a great way to spend real quality time with your children. Every school can take part in Walk Once a Week - we want even more children and families to take part this year. Details of how to get involved can be found on our website.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For any media enquiries, please contact Anna Powell on 020 7377 4914 or email anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk
WoW is part of Living Streets’ Walk to School campaign which is supported by the Department for Transport, Transport for London, ACTravelwise and Modeshift, and delivered in partnership with local organisers throughout England.
WoW stands for ‘walk once a week’. It is a simple scheme for use in primary schools: participating children walk to and/or from school at least once a week and if they meet their target the child is rewarded with a collectable metal badge. There are 11 badges to collect – one for each month of the academic year, and the badges are designed by children themselves.
Living Streets is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 26/01/2010
