Celebrating the benefits of walking to school in the Western Isles
A celebration event was held for Western Isles pupils to highlight the physical, mental, social and environment benefits of walking.
Regional transport partnership HITRANS hosted the event in the Stornoway Library to mark the end of Walk to School Week and congratulate those who took part.
Children were invited to come along and have a look at the new active travel-themed books in the library.
There was also a storytelling session and goody bags for all those who attended.
Pupils from Stornoway Primary and schools in Tong, Breasclete and Laxdale in Lewis, as well as those from Balivanich School in Benbecula, took part in the initiative aimed at encouraging more active travel.
Walk to School Week is an annual five-day walking challenge where pupils across Scotland are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot, or wheel to school each day to feel the benefits of getting active before the school day.
More than 250,000 pupils signed up to this year’s challenge and its theme, The Great Space Walk.
The Living Streets charity supports HITRANS on the initiative to help inspire young people to make walking a natural choice for everyday local journeys.
Leah MacKay, HITRANS behaviour change officer (Western Isles), said: “Walk to School Week is a great way to boost children’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“Walking/cycling/wheeling helps them stay active, improves focus and mood and encourages healthy habits.
“It also supports better concentration in class and builds confidence and independence. Socially, it gives children a chance to connect with friends and their local community.
“Plus, it reduces traffic and pollution around schools, promoting a safer, greener environment.“
Leah adds: “This Living Streets initiative is fantastic for children in the Western Isles as it will help to build their confidence using active travel travelling to school.
“It also gives them the opportunity to collect stickers and badges, making it more enjoyable for the children involved and encouraging them to take part.
“We are really looking forward to seeing how all four schools involved get on during the week.”
Living Streets Scotland also delivers WOW – its walk to school programme.
The charity currently delivers WOW in more than 20 primary schools across Argyll and Bute, Highland, Moray, the Western Isles and Orkney.
The pupil-led initiative encourages students to log their active journeys to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker, with over 145,000 journeys logged last year.
Pupils who walk, cycle, scoot, or wheel to school once a week for a month are rewarded with a special collectible badge.
WOW schools see an average of 59% fewer car journeys to the school gates and 18% more journeys walking and wheeling all the way to school.
Chris Thompson, programme manager, Living Streets Scotland, said: “Living Streets Scotland are pleased to be working for the second year to support HITRANS.
“I’m delighted to announce that more than 20 schools in the area are taking part in Walk to School Week, so pupils can experience the many benefits – and joys – of walking to school.”
Pupils in Laxdale School took part in Walk to School Week as part of their Whole School Sports Week.
The pupils are encouraged to walk/cycle/scooter to school. Some walk from home while others are dropped off a little further away from the school and walk the last part of the journey.
Pupils receive house points each day if they have walked to school.
Here’s what some of them had to say.
“Walking to school is good for me and for everybody. I walk to school with my mammy”, Katie.
“I like cycling to school as it is fun to do and it is good exercise”, Heidi.
“I live far away from the school so my mammy dropped me off before the school and I walked the last part to school on my own”, Ella.
“I’ve been walking to school with my friends. It’s good to get fresh air”, Andrew.
Eric Macleod, an Active Schools Coordinator at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “We are very aware now of the health benefits of daily exercise and how important it is for both our physical and mental well-being.
“Walking, in particular, is a readily accessible form of exercise that both enhances our mood, and increases our energy levels, so Walk to School Week provides both parents and pupils (and staff too) with the perfect opportunity to start their day well.
“Parents and their children get to spend some quality time together, extending their family contact time, whilst also improving their own fitness and physical and mental connection with the outdoors.
“It also provides the pupils with the opportunity to share their stories form the walk, increasing these very important social interactions with their peers, and all from a positive perspective.
“We encourage all forms of physical travel, so bikes, scooters and even skateboards all count and we hope this kickstarts healthy habits that children continue to pursue beyond the programme, and into their teenage years and adult life.”