Central Bedfordshire Council news and press releases

Central Bedfordshire pupils take to the streets for Walk to School Week

Monday, 16 May 2022

School pupils in Central Bedfordshire will join thousands of children across the UK taking part in Walk to School Week (16 to 20 May 2022).

Walk to School Week takes place during Living Streets’ National Walking Month each May, with this year’s campaign focusing on the health and environmental benefits of walking to school.

This year’s challenge, #PowerUp, will engage pupils on how being active helps improve their health, happiness and local environment through video-game inspired design and resources, encouraging them to travel sustainably to school every day of the week.

Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Pupils will enjoy classroom packs, filled with activities to complete on the way to school and in the classroom. Each day, the #PowerUp challenge will take pupils through five levels: ‘Team Up’, ‘Defeat Danger’ ‘Boost Health’, ‘Save the Planet’ and ‘Lead the Way’. These daily missions will highlight the social, road safety, physical, mental, and environmental benefits of walking.

Daily reward stickers and special reward badges are up for grabs at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day. Walk to School Week classroom packs, containing resources for up to 30 pupils, are available to order now.

Last year, a record number of over 350,000 pupils across the UK took part in Walk to School Week, with this year looking to be bigger than ever.

Councillor Steven Dixon, our Executive Member for Sustainability, said:

Walk to School Week is a fantastic opportunity for pupils across Central Bedfordshire to come together and celebrate the many benefits of walking to school.

Walking is a brilliant way to get active, keep healthy and see some of the beautiful nature that we’re fortunate to have in Central Bedfordshire. It’s also a great opportunity for children to learn vital road safety skills and make sure they’re alert and ready to learn at the start of each school day.

As well as the individual health benefits for parents and pupils, schools that encourage walking find that their school entrances and surrounding streets are less congested during peak times, which improves local air quality and provides a safer environment.