UK government allocates £60 million to “transform the school run”

Up to 2 million more children will have access to walk to school programmes and cycle training programmes over the next two years thanks for a £60 million investment announced by Active Travel England (ATE) today (29 Sept 2023), aimed at tackling the school run.

For reference, there are 12.7 million children (under the age of 16) in the UK, so that is a fair proportion covered. The news has been timed to round off Cycle to School Week.

The two-year funding will largely go towards Bikeability, with £50 million expanding the programme to a million more young people. The scheme has delivered training to more than four million children since 2007.

£5 million will support walk to school programmes aimed at hundreds of thousands of pupils in schools across England via the charity Living Streets.

The package also includes £4 million to extend Cycling UK’s Bike Bike Revival programme to March 2025. The scheme has already engaged over 80,00 people of all ages, helping them learn cycling basics and feel more confident while pedalling. Bike shops and mobile mechanics should take note of that one in particular – in the past they’ve been able to apply for a grant to participate in this work.

Finally, an additional £500,000 will fund an extension to the Modeshift STARS and Active Travel Ambassador schemes. The STARS program provides recognition for schools, businesses and organisations that show excellence in supporting and delivering active travel plans in their community. Active Travel Ambassadors work with secondary school students to encourage their peers to travel actively.

Meanwhile, the Bikeability Trust has issued the results of a YouGov survey that highlighted how children across Great Britain love to get on their bikes and cycles but are sometimes put off by busy roads and people driving too fast. 85% of children in GB aged six to 15 felt it was important to be able to ride a bike or cycle. Over a third said they were discouraged by roads that were too busy and jam-packed with cars. A quarter said they felt too nervous or not confident enough, however almost a third said nothing would stop them from riding their bike or cycle.

Chris Boardman, Active Travel Commissioner, said: “Giving kids transport independence and enabling them to walk, wheel or cycle on the school run is what they want, and what we want for them. This £60 million funding package will help put the joy back into journeys and create a generation of young people who feel confident to make healthier and greener travel choices.”

Decarbonisation Minister, Jesse Norman (who presumably is having a difficult week), said: “The government wants children up and down the country to benefit from the freedom as well as the huge mental and physical health benefits of cycling. That is why it is investing £60 million in this package of measures to support active travel for young people.”

Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, said: “The journey to and from school is an essential part of the school day for every child, and it’s encouraging that Active Travel England is investing in active travel initiatives for children and young people that can improve their health and wellbeing.

“Many schools are already encouraging these initiatives locally and this is being supported with our School Sport and Activity Action Plan, which was published earlier this year.

“The plan supports initiatives to increase active and safe travel to school such as Walk to School Outreach, School Streets and Bikeability – and these include inclusive delivery for children with special educational needs and disabilities.”

Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said: “This funding will support even more families to choose active ways to travel to school, boosting the nation’s health, reducing congestion and improving air quality.

“Our programmes have been incredibly successful, playing a huge role in helping more children walk to school. We look forward to more pupils and schools joining us and reaping the benefits that come from swapping the school run for a school walk.”

Emily Cherry, Chief Executive of the Bikeability Trust, said: “What great news to wrap up Cycle to School Week. We and ATE share an ambition that every child has the confidence to cycle and can enjoy this skill for life. This funding will help us and our brilliant Bikeability instructors, training providers and grant recipients to work towards that ambition this and next year. Together, we can make sure that no child leaves school without the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to cycle.”