Children take to their feet this International Walk to School Month

LIVING Streets, the UK charity behind the biggest walk to School campaign is encouraging families to leave the car at home for:- 'International Walk to School Month' this October.

Pupils around the globe will walk to School to celebrate International Walk to School Month. In the UK, children in certain Schools are enjoying the benefits of active travel year round because they take part in WOW; the walk to School challenge from Living Streets.

WOW sees pupils record how they get to School using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker with those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot to School being awarded a monthly WOW badge. Pupils can also earn a badge by using:- 'Park and Stride,' parking at least 10 minutes from their School and walking the rest of the way.

The latest national data shows that less than half of Primary School children in England walk to School, but that is not the case in Schools taking part in WOW with Living Streets. New analysis of WOW Travel Tracker data shows that WOW Schools in England typically see an increase in walking and wheeling rates of 17% with 60% fewer cars driving to the School gates compared to before the Schools started WOW.

Walking to School helps contribute to the 60 active minutes a day recommended by health experts to keep children healthy and happy. Similarly, parents/carers accompanying them benefit from reduced risk of long-term chronic health conditions such as certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Active Travel England funds some Schools in England to take part in WOW through Living Streets' Walk to School Outreach programme.

Former Olympian, Chris Boardman OBE, is the National Active Travel Commissioner. He said:- "The majority of kids have told us they want to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle to School; it's what they want, and it's what we want for them. Walk to School Month offers us an opportunity to try travelling differently, and if it sticks, we can give a new generation the transport independence they deserve. I encourage all parents and pupils to give it a go to help reduce congestion around the School gates and kickstart the greener, healthier School run we need."

Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets, said:- "International Walk to School Month is a great opportunity for families to try walking to School. We hope that the benefits they experience will see them choosing to walk or wheel more all year round. Recent National Travel Survey data revealed that 22% of parents of children who do not currently walk to School said that safer roads would encourage them to walk to School more often. 9% said more safer crossing points would help them choose to walk more. We're campaigning to make Britain's streets child friendly by tackling deterrents like pavement parking and dangerous crossings. But we need support to be able to continue this work. Visit our website to donate to our urgent appeal and help secure a future where streets work for everyone."

For more information about WOW and how to get the scheme in your School, visit:- LivingStreets.Org.UK.

Portrait of passengers on popular bus route published in print

A book capturing the quirkiness and uniqueness of the 86 bus route from Smithdown Road to Liverpool City centre has been published.

The 86 book is part of Picton Play, commissioned by Liverpool City Council's Culture Liverpool team as part of its Creative Neighbourhoods programme and delivered by Edge Hill based arts organisation Metal.

Written by:- Nicki McCubbing, with a foreword by Lynsey Hanley and designed by Lisa Robson, the book celebrates the beauty found in everyday interactions and the glimmers of humanity we experience through community connection.

During a 3 month artist residency on the 86 bus, Nicki, who herself has ridden the 86 route between the City centre and her home for over 25 years, captured conversations, moments of laughter, sadness, and confusion.

The result is a relatable, heart warming and humorous collection of small observed gestures and snippets of conversations that creates a unique portrait of the 86.

Building on the success of the 4 Corners Artists in Residence commission developed as part of the European Capital of Culture Creative Neighbourhoods programme in 2008, Culture Liverpool commissioned Metal to deliver a series of artistic interventions as part of the Picton Play programme.

Nicki's residency on the 86 bus was part of the 1st phase of the programme; Listening; which involved hosting artists in unexpected places to exchange knowledge with residents about the area and its people and places, while making new connections around the themes of play, sharing, joy and celebration.

The 86 Bus book will be available to buy from:- MetalCulture.BigCartel.Com  from:- Saturday, 5 October 2024.

Picton Play is part of Culture Liverpool's Creative Neighbourhoods programme, which is an ongoing series of collaborative projects and creative interventions that engage with communities and neighbourhoods throughout Liverpool, and include:- artistic residencies, development of public art, events and creative engagement workshops. Other projects within the programme include:- Flower Streets in Kirkdale, People of Anfield and Childhood is a Garden in Garston.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Harry Doyle, said:- "Picton Play, part of our wider Creative Neighbourhoods programme, brings together artists, community organisers, young people and other curious residents to celebrate the existing creativity in the neighbourhood and explore new ways of getting together through play. The book is the result of the latest in a series of listening residencies, which has hosted artists in unexpected places from supermarket car parks to botanic parks and gardens, engaging with residents though creative sessions such as den building and community pop-up events."

Jenny Porter, director of Metal in Liverpool, said:- "The Picton Play Listening residencies have been about artists spending time in places in our neighbourhood where we wouldn't normally expect to see art. The projects have uncovered and celebrated the existing creativity found here in lots of different ways. Nicki's book is a beautiful portrait of the Picton neighbourhood, and she has perfectly captured its uniqueness and quirky nature.:- "

Artist Nicki McCubbing said:- "The 86 has been my bus route between the City centre and my home for over 25 years. It's important to me that ordinary people see themselves in art and here I have tried to capture the different classes, ages and backgrounds of all the people riding on this bus with love and humour. Riding the bus has this strange mix of being together and separate; together and lonely."