The Active School Travel Programme is an exciting initiative for schools who wish to see more of their pupils choosing an active and healthy journey to school.
Our Active School Travel programme
Sustrans is being funded by the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency to continue delivering the Active School Travel Programme across Northern Ireland until July 2022.
Currently, our Schools Team is working directly with 200 schools across the country.
Increasing the number of children who regularly walk, cycle or scoot to school has numerous benefits including:
- increased physical activity levels resulting in improved health and wellbeing
- reduced congestion and pollution around schools
- improved academic performance and attendance rates
- increased road safety awareness
- increased confidence, self-esteem, and independence for young people.
This initiative provides schools with a planned programme of activities throughout the year, both in and out of the classroom.
You'll also get direct hands-on support from a dedicated Sustrans Active Travel Officer.
The fundamental aim of the programme is to provide schools with the skills and knowledge to get more children walking, cycling and scooting as their main mode of transport to school.
More children active on the school run
At the end of the 2020-21 school year, the number of children travelling actively to school at participating schools increased from 31% to 43%.
At the same time, the number of pupils being driven to school fell from 61% to 50%.
After one year in the programme, the number of children completing physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day increased from 26% to 41%.
Please take a look at the 2020-21 Summary Report to find out more about how the Active School Travel Programme is successfully working to increase the number of children walking, wheeling and cycling to school in Northern Ireland.
School newsletters
Download the autumn edition of the Active School Travel Programme newsletter for your area:
Want to get in touch?
Please email us on schoolsNI@sustrans.org.uk or call 07824 627 674.
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