Links to organisations we work with

We work with partners to engage families and schools in Active Travel. Here are some links to three we work with.

Living Streets is the UK charity for everyday walking. Their mission is to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more. They offer a range of initiatives for schools such as the Little Steps package for under 5’s, the WOW Travel Tracker for primary schools, and Transitions, an initiative to support children transitioning to secondary schools, as well as running events such as ‘Walk to School Week’. Active Travel Schools are working closely with Living Streets and are funding the WOW Travel Tracker in 40 primary schools across Cardiff. Email us if you would like to get involved in this: travelplans@cardiff.gov.uk

Sustrans are the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. Their vision is ‘a society where the way we travel creates healthier places and happier lives for everyone’. They do a great deal of work with schools such as running events like ‘Bike to School Week’ and Sustrans ‘Big Pedal’. They run a programme called ‘Active Journeys’ across schools in Wales helping children across to safely, easily and confidently travel to school by foot, bike and scooter. Schools can apply to take part in the Active Journeys programme by applying directly to them.

Welsh Cycling is the national governing body of cycling in Wales, working in partnership with British and Scottish Cycling and is based at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport. Their ambition is for at least 50% of children being able to ride a bike by 2030. Within schools, they offer a range of programmes such as Ready Set Ride, a free digital resource for parents and teachers wanting to support children to learn to ride a bike, Cycling for Schools which is fun and engaging cycle training as well as other cycle training and training young coaches.

Welsh Cycling worked closely with Cardiff Council to establish the Schools Bike Fleet.

Keep Wales Tidy run the Eco-Schools programme in Wales. Eco-Schools is a global programme engaging 19.5 million children across 68 countries, making it the largest education programme on the planet. The Eco-Schools programme is a 7 step process designed to empower and inspire young people to make positive environmental changes to their school and wider community. Detailed guidance on  Eco-schools can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website . The Eco-schools programme in Wales covers 9 interlinked topics to help schools develop a more rounded approach to ESDGC. One of the 9 topic areas covered as part of the programme is transport. Any work you do on Active travel can be included as part of eco-school action plan and can be used as evidence for your next award.

For more information about Eco-Schools in Cardiff contact Catrin Moss on  catrin.moss@keepwalestidy.org

Schools in Cardiff that encourage young people and families to travel to school in an active way are also supporting their progress on the Healthy Schools areas of Safety, Environment and Food and Fitness. Young people will learn about road safety as well as the benefits of active travel for the environment and their own physical health and mental wellbeing. By involving students, staff and the wider community in developing an active travel plan it can provide evidence that the school supports a whole school approach to health and wellbeing as part of the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS). Families and young people that actively travel to school are supporting their school to be a Healthy School.

Pre-school settings in Cardiff that encourage children and families to travel to the setting in an active way are also supporting their progress on the Cardiff Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme (CHaSPS) health topics of Safety, Environment and Physical Activity and Active Play. Children will learn about road safety as well as experience the benefits to their own physical health and mental wellbeing. Families and young people that actively travel to pre-school are supporting their setting to be a Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School setting.