Hi-vis kids walk to school
Building firm Taylor Wimpey supports healthier lifestyle initiative
Walking is a great habit for youngsters to get into early in life... Audrey Ross
Youngsters at St Elizabeth’s Primary put their best feet forward for Walk to School Month.
The initiative is all about promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the number of cars on the road.
And house builder Taylor Wimpey West Scotland supported the children in encouraging families to pull on their walking shoes and leave the car at home for the journey to school this autumn.
To help keep youngsters safe on the way, especially in the darker autumn and winter months, Taylor Wimpey supplied plenty of high-visibility snap bands for pupils to wear.
The donation is part of a campaign that will see more than 13,000 snap bands provided to children across the country.
Christine Emmett, assistant deputy head teacher at St Elizabeth’s Primary, said: “Children really do benefit from walking to school – not only is the exercise healthy for them, but it also helps reduce the amount of traffic outside school, which is safer for them too.
“We are very grateful to Taylor Wimpey for this generous donation which will help raise the profile of Walk to School Month among pupils and parents alike.”
According to Living Streets, the charity that organises the Walk to School campaign in the UK, only 21 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls meet the current recommended daily level of exercise (60 minutes of physical activity).
A generation ago, 70 per cent of youngsters walked to school, but now it’s less than half – and during morning peak traffic times, one in five cars on the road are taking children to school, contributing to congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.
Audrey Ross, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, which is currently building new homes at its Annsfield Farm development in Hamilton, said: “We are proud to be supporting Walk to School Month again this year and are delighted to be working in partnership with nearby St Elizabeth’s Primary to help encourage families to leave the car at home and set off for school on foot instead.
“Walking is a great habit for youngsters to get into early in life, so we hope our snap bands will add some fun to the journey to school, as well as keeping them safe on the way.”