Modeshift Active Travel Ambassadors – events for pupils in the final stages of the programme come to a close

Over the past two months secondary schools and academies engaged in our Active Travel Ambassadors programme have taken part in ‘Dragon’s Den’ style events to pitch for funding to support their schools active and sustainable travel provision.

Campaign Junction events have been held across the country and celebrate the programme which started in September 2022.

This week we saw the last of the events for the Midlands, East Riding of Yorkshire, South Gloucestershire and Norfolk.

With the guidance of our Active Travel Ambassadors team, secondary school age pupils have been swapping their parent’s car for walking, wheeling and cycling. These students have gone on to develop their own active travel plans for their schools – pitched at the campaign junction events.

Pupils have worked with experts from The Bikeability Trust, the charity responsible for delivering the national cycle training programme in England and their local Authorities.

Schools that become Active Travel Academies receive expert support from Modeshift to help pupils create a travel plan for the school before bidding for funding to deliver their ambitions. This can include Bikeability cycle training for pupils and Dr Bike cycle maintenance classes to get more pupils cycling and walking to school.

Ross Butcher, Modeshift Chair said: ‘The Modeshift Active Travel Ambassadors programme empowers secondary school pupils by giving them the skills and confidence to tackle travel issues in the school community. Together we’re setting these pupils up to carry these active travel habits into their adult lives’.

Emily Sykes, Active Travel Ambassadors Programme Manager said: ‘By working in partnership with the Bikeability Trust and with the fantastic support of the Local Authorities, the Active Travel Ambassador programme has been a great success at all of the schools that have taken part in these events. The Ambassadors involved have embraced the opportunity to have their voice heard and are committed to making a positive impact in their school community, making people think differently about how they choose to travel. They are working incredibly hard to promote the benefits of walking, cycling and wheeling, acting as active travel role models to their friends and peers and leaving a legacy in their school community.’