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St Patrick’s (Ballymaghery) School 13 Castlewellan Road Newry

Sustrans Active Schools Programme

2nd Oct 2022

We're delighted to inform you that St. Patrick's has been accepted onto the Sustrans Active School Travel Programme! We have teamed up with the country’s leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, to encourage more journeys to school by foot or wheels. Active travel, such as cycling, walking and scooting to and from school, has a range of benefits including:

• improving health through physical activity;
• promoting independence;
• improving safety awareness;
• benefiting the environment;
• reducing the number of cars around the school gates, making our school safer for everyone.

We will be working closely with Dave Wiggins, our Sustrans Active Travel Officer, who will help us promote active travel throughout the year by organising activities and events to encourage pupils to cycle, scoot and walk to school. We will be offering cycling training to a number of pupils to help them ride safely and feel more confident on their bikes. More details and dates to follow over the coming term.

We understand cycling or walking to school is not easy for every family, and there will be opportunities for all children to participate in some activities.

Parents can help by accompanying their children to and from school and ensuring children are wearing helmets and bright clothes to help them be seen by other road users. The decision as to whether a child is competent to cycle, scoot or walk to and from school rests with the parents/carers. You can also support this initiative by watching out for cyclists and pedestrians on your journey to school.

We look forward to seeing more children and parents/carers cycling, walking and scooting to school this year!