Merthyr Tydfil schools ready to celebrate 15 years of UK’s largest travel to school challenge

Schools in Merthyr Tydfil county still have time to sign up to the UK’s largest walking, wheeling, scooting, and cycling to school challenge.

Taking place from the 11^th to the 22^nd of March 2024, Sustrans’ Big Walk and Wheel inspires pupils to make active journeys to school, improving air quality in their neighbourhood and discovering how these changes benefit the world around them.

The event sees schools compete each day to make the most journeys by travelling actively to school and is seeing its 15^th anniversary by celebrating the success enjoyed across the years for pupils, parents, and schools.

The challenge is delivered by Sustrans, the charity that aims to make walking, wheeling, and cycling easier, in partnership with headline sponsors Schwalbe Tyres UK and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Siani Colley-Nester, Sustrans Cymru Curriculum and Communications Co-ordinator, said: “Millions of pupils have risen to the challenge and embraced active travel throughout these past 15 years of Sustrans’ Big Walk and Wheel, and who wouldn’t when the competition is such fun?

“Not only are pupils and their families enjoying the delights of an active school commute, they’re also saving money and improving congestion and the environment around their schools.”

Sustrans’ Big Walk and Wheel is open to all primary and secondary schools in the UK, including ALN schools and PRUs, with prizes to be won every day.

Free resources are available to encourage pupils to help reduce air pollution and learn about the benefits of active travel for themselves, their schools, their neighbourhoods, and the planet.