PUPILS GET MOVING FOR MAYOR’S WALK AND WHEEL CHALLENGE

Published 20 May 2025 at 12:15pm

Over 144 primary schools in South Yorkshire are moving more and differently on the school run this week for Mayor Oliver Coppard’s Walk and Wheel Challenge.
 
 The Mayor’s Walk and Wheel Challenge 2025 – a special collaboration with national walking charity, Living Streets, to encourage children to walk, wheel or cycle to school each day - takes place during Walk to School Week (19 and 23 May 2025).
 
 Mayor Coppard and South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, visited children at Coleridge Primary School in Rotherham on Monday to mark the start of the challenge.
 
 It forms part of the Mayor’s key manifesto commitment to make South Yorkshire the best place in the country to walk, wheel and cycle for our children, with an ambitious plan for active travel with schools at its heart.
 
 Participating schools receive a free resource pack including stickers, activity tracking charts, bookmarks and fun activity sheets. A prize draw also offers the chance to win scooters, bikes and a cycling workshop with Ed Clancy OBE.
 
 This year’s challenge builds on the successful Mayor’s Walk and Wheel Challenge in 2024, part of the Mayor’s Year of Active Travel. 78 schools across South Yorkshire were involved in last year’s event.
 
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Our children deserve the best start in life, and helping kids build activity into their everyday is a big part how we will reach that goal.
 
 “We know that giving children the freedom and choice to move more and move differently can help build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle, encouraging young people to develop healthy habits.
 
 “I’m delighted we’ve been able to work with Living Streets to develop a unique approach to their national Walk to School Week campaign here in South Yorkshire, through my Walk and Wheel Challenge.
 
 “Not only will this partnership make materials and resources more accessible to primary schools right across South Yorkshire it will also support our young people, families and schools to see walking, scooting and cycling to school as an obvious first choice.”
 
 The Mayor’s visit to Coleridge School was an opportunity to hear about school initiatives and hear how active travel interventions are benefitting the school and supporting a healthier, happier community.
 
 The five-day Walk and Wheel Challenge involves encouraging every primary school aged child in the region to choose to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school each day.
 
 Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May.
 
 This year’s challenge will see pupils take on The Great Space Walk. Meeting various colourful intergalactic friends along the way, pupils will learn via daily themes about the important reasons to walk or wheel, including mental wellbeing, physical health, sustainability, road safety and community benefits.
 
Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Walk to School Week is a wonderful opportunity for pupils across the UK to celebrate the many benefits of walking and wheeling to school.
 
 “Schools that take part can enjoy reduced congestion and pollution, while children reap the benefits of being active and spending quality time with friends and family.
 
 “We are delighted South Yorkshire schools are at the front of the queue to join us this Walk to School Week and hope they inspire others to get involved this May.”
 
South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy OBE, said: "Walking, wheeling, and cycling have so many benefits, and schools are key to making them part of everyday life.
 
 "Every child should have the freedom to choose whether to walk, scoot, or bike to school—it keeps them active and builds healthy habits for life in their formative years.
 
 "The Mayor’s Walk and Wheel Challenge is back, and this year it’s even bigger and better with Living Streets.
 
 "We’re encouraging kids across South Yorkshire to move more, try new ways of getting around, and make everyday journeys healthier and happier."
 
For more information visit the Walk and Wheel Challenge webpage.