We support a range of sustainable travel initiatives that schools can take part in throughout the school year.
Movetober is a month‑long challenge that encourages pupils to travel in a sustainable way each day. Each school receives a prize bag and a PowerPoint presentation to help introduce the challenge. Pupils earn a ticket for every day they travel sustainably. At the end of each week, the school draws a winner for the prize bag, which includes items linked to sustainable travel.
The Santa challenge is a 2‑week activity where pupils’ active journeys are recorded as virtual miles towards Santa’s home in Lapland. We can provide a PowerPoint presentation to help introduce the challenge, as well as a sustainable travel prize for the last day of term. Places are limited and offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
The Big Walk and Wheel encourages pupils, staff and families to walk, wheel, cycle or scooter to school. The challenge aims to help pupils make more active journeys, improve local air quality and understand how sustainable travel benefits the environment. You can find out more on the Big Walk and Wheel website.
Walk to School Week is a 5‑day national challenge run by Living Streets. Each year has a new theme that encourages pupils to travel actively to school every day. The week helps schools take part in a national effort to promote sustainable travel and supports families to see that active travel is enjoyable and achievable.
Walk Once a Week is a year‑round scheme that encourages families to walk to school. Children who walk at least once a week each month receive a badge designed by pupils through a national competition open to all WOW schools.
A walking bus is a group of children who walk to and from school with at least 2 registered adults. You can read more in our walking bus guidance for schools (PDF, view in browser or download).
For more information about any of these initiatives, email travelchoices@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.