Pupils encouraged to enter annual walk to school competition

School children are being encouraged to design badges as part of an annual competition to promote Living Streets’ walk to school challenge.

Living Streets campaigns to get people of all generations to enjoy the benefits of walking. Among its initiatives for children is ‘WOW’, a year-round challenge which rewards those who walk to school at least once a week with collectable badges.

Pupils can also record how they get to school on the ‘WOW Travel Tracker’, while teachers receive monthly curriculum-aligned learning resources and assembly presentations to help children develop ‘lifelong healthy habits’.

Every year more than 100,000 children take part in the competition, which Living Streets says can increase walking rates at participating schools by 23% – with a corresponding drop in car use.

The theme for the badge competition, ‘Inventions that changed the world’, takes pupils on a journey through time and across the globe, celebrating some of the greatest inventions ever created – with entrants encouraged to recognise the inventions of ‘lesser-celebrated people’.

The 11 winning designs will be turned into more than 450,000 WOW badges for use in around 2,000 schools across the UK during the next academic year.

Kevin Croasdale, schools manager, Living Streets, said: “WOW is a great way to help keep children healthy and happy by encouraging them to be active every day.

“Children love taking part and collecting the badges, with winners of the WOW badge competition having the extra pride of seeing their badges worn by pupils across England, Scotland and Wales.

“This year, we’re looking for engaging, fun and colourful depictions of inventions that changed the world. We can’t wait to see what this year’s entrants have to offer.”

The closing date for entries is 15 March – click here for more information.

---