6,400 local children to take part in Walk to School Week 2021

20 of York’s primary schools are set to take part in Walk to School Week 2021, which runs from 14 to 28 June. This year the event includes activities taking place on Clean Air Day on 17 June.

Locally, around 6,400 students from 20 different schools will get involved. The annual awareness-raising event aims to encourage children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school, rather than travelling by car. This year the event will have a particular focus on the impact of pollution on our health, encouraging families to make a sustainable change to improve local air quality near schools.

Coinciding with Walk to School Week this year is Clean Air Day on 17 June. Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK.  The World Health Organisation and the Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today.

Poor air quality causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth weight and children’s lung development and may even contribute to mental health issues*. Clean Air day is being promoted through the council’s hard-hitting anti-idling campaign, Kick the Habit: which aims to to help tackle this problem in York www.york.gov.uk/engineoff

Residents of all ages can find out more about sustainable travel options by visiting www.itravelyork.info

More information on the ‘Kick the Habit’ campaign is available here www.york.gov.uk/EngineOff

9,700 local children to take part in Walk to School Week 2020

Almost two thirds of York’s primary schools will take part in Walk to School Week 2020, which runs from 5 to 9 October during International Walk to School Month.

The annual awareness-raising event aims to encourage children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school, rather than travelling by car.

Locally, around 9,700 students from 31 different schools will get involved. City of York Council’s iTravel team will present the Jack Archer Award to the school with the highest proportion of its students walking, cycling or scooting throughout the week, as well as cash to spend on sports equipment. The Jack Archer Award is now in its seventeenth year and Age UK has supported the competition since it was first launched as part of its intergenerational work to encourage children to be more active.

More than 8,000 local children to take part in Walk to School Week 2019

More than half of York’s primary schools will take part in Walk to School Week 2019, which runs from 14 to 18 October.

The national, awareness-raising event is staged annually and aims to encourage children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school, rather than travelling by car.

Locally, in excess of 8,000 students from 28 different schools will get involved. City of York Council’s iTravel team will present the Jack Archer Award to the school with the highest proportion of its students walking, cycling or scooting throughout the week, as well as cash to spend on sports equipment, which has been donated by Age UK. The Jack Archer Award is now in its sixteenth year and Age UK has supported the competition since it was first launched as part of its intergenerational work to encourage children to be more active.

Councillor Andy D’Agorne, the council’s Executive Member for Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many local schools getting involved in Walk to School Week and competing for the Jack Archer Award.

“The council is committed to promoting sustainable forms of transport and it’s important that children are encouraged to adopt these habits from a young age. In addition to the health and wellbeing benefits for the children themselves, walking, cycling or scooting benefits everyone by reducing traffic congestion and emissions, and improving air quality.

“Good luck to all the schools taking part!”

Residents of all ages can find out more about sustainable travel options by visiting www.itravelyork.info.

Walk to school in York this week

York children set to take walk to school week in their stride

Twenty five York schools and over 7,000 pupils across the city are set to take part in Walk to School Week from Monday 16 October.

Walk to school week aims to get even more children walking, cycling or scooting to school.

The school that gets the highest number of pupils walking, cycling or scooting throughout the week will win the coveted Jack Archer award and £200 to put towards sports equipment.

It is recommended that children aged five to sixteen do at least sixty minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual and they need to do it everyday to burn off calories and prevent them storing up excess fat in the body.

Regular activity is also important for adults and it is recommended that adults make sure they’re active for just 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week.

The scheme is also targeted at families who normally take the car, and encourages them to consider walking or cycling to school instead.

Residents can find out more about changing the way they travel in York at: www.itravelyork.info
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Nearly 7,000 York school pupils set to take walk to school week in their stride

Twenty two York schools including 6,900 pupils are set to take part in walk to school week from Monday (22 -26 May), which aims to encourage even more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

The campaign is targeted at families who normally take the car and encourages them to consider walking or cycling to school instead.

Andrew Bradley, sustainable transport manager at City of York Council, said: “Walk to school week is always a popular campaign. It provides a great opportunity for pupils, parents and teachers to look at how they travel to school and the benefits that walking can bring, such as pupils being more alert in the classroom. This also helps towards the sixty minutes of recommended daily exercise.

Regular activity is also important for adults and it is recommended that adults make sure they’re active for just 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week.

Find out more about changing the way you travel in York at: www.itravelyork.info

York gears up for Walk to School Week

City of York Council is gearing up for Walk to School Week, which takes place between 18 – 22 May.

Nineteen primary schools across the city are taking part in this year’s campaign to encourage even more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Christine Packer, School Travel Advisor at City of York Council, said: “Walk to School week is a great chance for pupils who might not be currently walking, scooting or cycling to try changing the way in which they travel to school. This is a popular campaign in York which brings many benefits including improving the environment and health – children who walk to school are proven to be more alert in lessons. This also helps towards the 60-minutes of recommended daily exercise. ”

Jonathan Green, Head Teacher from Archbishop of York Junior school in Bishopthorpe, said: “We always encourage our pupils to walk and cycle to school, particularly during walk to school week because of the benefits to the children. Research shows those who cycle or walk to school can demonstrate a measurable increase in concentration that lasts for up to four hours. Plus, children feel healthier, they are sharper, more ready to learn and are more likely to arrive at school in a more positive frame of mind.”

Children aged five to 16 need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual and they need to do it everyday to help them keep fit and healthy.

Regular activity is also important for adults and it is recommended that adults make sure they’re active for just 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week. Just walking their children to school and back each day will meet this target for adults.

The scheme is also targeted at families who normally take the car, and encourages them to consider walking, scooting or cycling to school instead.

Residents can find out more about changing the way they travel in York at: www.itravelyork.info/