March 2, 2022

Calling all Cumbrian schools! We’re supporting Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel (the new name for Sustrans Big Pedal) and would like you to take part. Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge.

The event has a new name, but it still has the same aim: to encourage more families to travel to school actively and help create healthier and happier communities. On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can record the greatest proportion of their pupils walking, using a wheelchair, scooting or cycling to school.

This year’s challenge will run from 21 March- 1 April. It is free to enter for all schools in the UK, including SEN schools, and there are fantastic prizes to be won each day. Daily lesson plans are designed to educate children on the amazing benefits of active travel and physical activities for pupils with barriers to participation are also available. Both will be free to download during the challenge.

Wheely Great Prizes!

As an extra incentive we have prizes for the most active primary and secondary schools over the course of the challenge.

Primary schools are spilt into two categories (small and large) and the winning schools will each receive a fantastic Minipod. This is a bike rack for schools which is a fun, colourful, and compact cycle storage design that secures 8 bikes and 8 scooters.

The top secondary school will be given a day’s Mountain Bike guiding at Whinlatter Forest Park for 9 students and a member of staff (school to decide how places are allocated).

There will be £100 Halfords voucher for the runners up in each category.

Snap it Up!

As well as school prizes we’re asking the grown ups at home to share fab photos of students wheeling and walking to school. These will be entered into a draw to win one of 3 £100 Halfords vouchers. Please note that photos may be published on our social media channels and entering the competition indicates your consent to share images. Send photos to jodie.laird@cumbria.gov.uk.

 Game On!

Our friends at Street Tag have created some bonus challenges especially for the Big Walk and Wheel. Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook pages for more details.

Registration is now open. For more information and to register your class or school, visit www.bigwalkandwheel.org.uk