Special guest joins striding Scunthorpe pupils

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP joined pupils from his Scunthorpe constituency (Friday 13 December 2024) to celebrate the steps they are taking to get more active on the journey to school. 

Pupils at Leys Farm Junior School take part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

WOW sees pupils record how they get to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker with those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school being awarded a monthly WOW badge. 

Nationally, just 49 per cent of 5-10-year-olds currently walk to school . However, despite only starting to take part in WOW in November this year, pupils at Leys Farm Junior School have made an incredible start. As of 6 December, cars journeys to the school gate have reduced from 61 per cent to 34 per cent, with 65 per cent of journeys recorded on the WOW Travel Tracker being active – either walked, wheeled, cycled, scooted or ‘Park and Stride’.

Sir Nicholas Dakin and Living Streets’ mascot, Strider, joined pupils to hear about the benefits they are experiencing from walking to school.

Sir Nicholas Dakin said: 

“I really enjoyed the visit to Leys Farm School. What brilliant champions of striding to school the children are. Such great enthusiasm and energy. Living Streets is a superb organisation that helps us lead fitter and greener lives.”

Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: 

“We’re thrilled that Sir Nicholas Dakin could join us to celebrate the fantastic efforts that pupils in his constituency are making to get more active on the journey to school. 

“Whatever the weather, these pupils and their families have been choosing to fit a walk into their everyday routine, helping to improve road safety and air quality around their school. I hope the visit tonight inspires them to keep putting one foot in front of the other and encourages others to give it a go.”

Leys Farm Junior School takes part in WOW through Living Streets’ Walk to School Outreach programme, funded by Active Travel England. Other schools in North Lincolnshire can check if they are eligible to take part in WOW for free vis the button below or by emailing [email protected].