Pupils champion active travel in Suffolk schools

Suffolk County Council and sustainable travel experts Modeshift invited pupils from Beccles SET, Claydon High School, Farlingaye High School and Thomas Gainsborough School to pitch their active travel ideas at the Active Travel Ambassador (ATA) Campaign Junction event last week.

The event gave the pupils the opportunity to suggest solutions to transport challenges affecting their school community and to answer questions from an expert panel.

The pitches included ideas to increase walking and wheeling by making crossings safer, introducing walking and cycling competitions and running a 'Park and Stride' promotion.

All of the participating schools were successful in their pitches and have been awarded up to £200 from Modeshift, with a match fund contribution from Suffolk County Council, to deliver their projects.

Cllr Alexander Nicoll, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy at Suffolk County Council, sat on the panel. He said:

“It was a pleasure to sit on this panel and hear the innovative ideas these young people had for promoting active travel at their schools. I was encouraged by their enthusiasm and creativity.

“Promoting active travel is integral to the county council’s ambition to look after the health and wellbeing of our residents. Programmes such as these play an important part in establishing long-term habits of active travel and I hope these young people reap the numerous benefits for many years to come.”

Keith Woodward, Active Travel Ambassadors Coordinator for the East of England at Modeshift, said:

“The Campaign Junction for me is the highlight of the ATA Programme. It is wonderful to be able to get the schools taking part together to share their ideas and experiences, and this year the pitches from the students were exceptional.

“They confidently gave their presentations and answered questions from the panel of experts, with such precise and well thought out answers that it made it seem like they had worked in active travel for years. The students were inspirational, and I look forward to seeing the impact they have within their school community.”

Funded by Active Travel England, the ATA programme works with schools and Local Authorities to increase and promote active travel to and from schools. An ATA Coordinator works with a group of pupils in participating schools to develop an area of active travel on which to focus their pitch.