Ballymena schools urged to take on two-week travel challenge

Ballymena schools are being encouraged to take part in the Translink Eco Schools Travel Challenge to cut down on car congestion around school gates and help boost pupil health and wellbeing.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Oct 2016, 10:49 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 18:24 BST

The two-week travel challenge promotes walking, cycling, bus and train travel for the school run instead of car use.

It incorporates curriculum-linked resources and encourages schools to develop sustainable travel plans as a way to achieve the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag Award.

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Translink’s Ursula Henderson says the initiative is a fun way to educate young people about the environmental, safety, health and cost benefits of ‘active travel’ modes

“Last year, 36 schools successfully completed the challenge recording more than 13,427 sustainable journeys. There was a real shift away from car use; 60% of the journeys made during the Challenge were sustainable compared to 41% beforehand,” she said.

“We want to build on this success and attract even more challenge participants in 2016/17. We’re encouraging schools to visit www.translink.co.uk/ecoschools/ to download a range of engaging Key Stage 1 – 3 travel challenge classroom resources and get started!

“As well as helping their school achieve the Green Flag Award, the top performing classes and pupils in this year’s challenge will receive travel prizes at a special award ceremony during Bus + Train Week in June. Schools are also being encouraged to submit a #Smartmovers project that demonstrates all the innovative ways pupils have tackled the travel challenge,” said Ursula.

For further information visit www.translink.co.uk/ecoschools/. Deadline for completed Travel Challenge entries is Monday May 22.

Related topics:BallymenaTranslinkSchools