​Children are being encouraged to “walk for wellbeing” during this year’s Walk to School Week from May 16 to 20.

The week is organised by the charity Living Streets and this year will see the #PowerUp challenge, which focuses on how being active helps improve health, happiness, and local environment.

Living Streets is a UK charity for “everyday walking” and Walk to School Week is part of its National Walking Month campaign which is running for the whole of May. Families will be encouraged to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or “Park and Stride” for the whole week.

The #PowerUp challenge will engage pupils through a video game-inspired activity. Each day, the challenge will take pupils through five levels: Team Up, Defeat Danger, Boost Health, Save the Planet, and Lead the Way. These daily “missions” will teach pupils about the social, road safety, physical, mental, and environmental benefits of walking.

Daily reward stickers and reward badges are up for grabs at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day. Walk to School Week classroom packs, containing resources for up to 30 pupils, are available. The packs are undated so can be used during any week of the year and are available for key stage 1/P1-3 or key stage 2/P4-7, each featuring differing, age-appropriate activities.


Walking the walk: Pupils from Strider and Sandal Castle Primary School in Wakefield taking part in Walk to School Week 2021 (image: Living Streets/Gerard Binks Photography)


Last year, a record 350,000 pupils across the UK took part in Walk to School Week. Stephen Edwards from Living Streets said: “Walk to School Week is an excellent opportunity for pupils across the UK to come together and celebrate the many benefits of walking to school.

“Schools that take part in Walk to School Week can enjoy reduced congestion and pollution, while children are well on their way to meeting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay fit, healthy and happy.”

Living Streets has been operating for 90 years and its campaigning led to the UK’s first zebra crossings and speed limits. It works now to “overcome barriers to walking”.