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Bike It Southampton. Matt Porter Bike It Officer, Southampton 28 th June 2012. Who are Sustrans?.
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Bike It Southampton Matt Porter Bike It Officer, Southampton 28th June 2012
Who are Sustrans? • “Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable. We're a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day” • Established in 1977 in Bristol • Best known for the NCN – over 13,500 miles of cycling heaven – although we have many projects
Why is Bike It in Southampton? • Building on previous successes that Sustrans has achieved in Southampton • Part of a successful bid to central government funding by Southampton City Council • Local Sustainable Transport Fund has made Bike It possible for at least the next three years • Supporting a wider initiative – My Journey – which will increase sustainable travel use in Southampton • Currently bidding for more money to expand the programme
What is Bike It? • Bike It has been successfully run by Sustrans across the UK for the past 9 years • Programme of intensive engagement, supporting schools to develop an ingrained culture of cycling and healthy, sustainable lifestyles • Last year alone, some 75 Bike It Officers worked with 380,000 pupils in over 1,700 schools • Average increase of regular cycling up 15% - 27%
Smileage. But for me, Bike It is this…
How does Bike It work? • Bike It is based on a three-year accreditation programme – Sustrans School Mark • Schools receive intensive, ongoing support for their whole community, with a strong emphasis on safety and personal decision making • This is achieved through a range of activities; • Classroom learning, assemblies and workshops • Fun events, games, sports, and competitions • Practical sessions; cycling skills and maintenance
Knowing when a bike is safe to ride, and how to look after it
Policy and campaigns • www.freerangekids.org.uk Sign the pledge Get involved! more walking and cycling routes, particularly to school Finding quick and safe walking and cycling routes, to school
Competitions! • The Big Pedal • Race Around the World • Local competitions • Slow bike races, bike polo, and other games • The journeys of Bike It Bear…
The benefits to children • Regular cycling to school up from 15% to 27% • 52% of parents say their child is more active • 8% - number of children cycling to school one year after starting Bike It, four times national average • Children undertaking activity before school are more alert and responsive to learning • “…cycling in the fresh air is healthy and helps save the earth … it also helps with my fitness for football, swimming and gymnastics” • Fraser, aged 8
The benefits to the school • Supports National Curriculum and government initiatives • Reduced congestion – 1-in-5 cars on the road at 8:30am are on the school run, and just return home afterwards • Better engagement with wider school community – 11% adults and 27% siblings get involved! • Some excellent opportunities for innovative topic work • “… particularly pleasing is that working with Sustrans has helped overcome barriers to raise cycling levels to the high ones we have now” • Headteacher, St Anne’s Primary, Surrey
Bike It in Southampton • Bike It Southampton will officially launch in September 2012 • We will be working with at least 6 schools to deliver the intensive programme, but there is scope for more • We will also be working with many other schools, delivering a wide range of events • This will often become a platform for schools wishing to engage with the full Bike It programme in the future • Some schools have already been selected, however we are still recruiting ready for the Autumn Term start
Summary • Fully funded programme until at least 2015 • Built on 9 years of best practice and proven success • Meets government & curriculum targets • Great CPD opportunities and chance for innovative, practical and experiential learning • Accredited programme & excellent publicity • Improves pupils’ health and alertness • Involves the whole school community, further developing relations
Thank you Any questions? Information packs and contact details are available from Matt More information available from www.sustrans.org.uk