Children encouraged to walk for wellbeing during Walk to School Week (16 – 20 May 2022)

• Thousands of children across the UK will take to their feet for Walk to School Week (16 – 20 May 2022).
• Walk to School Week takes place during Living Streets’ National Walking Month each May, with this year’s campaign focussing on the incredible benefits of walking for individuals, communities and the planet.
• This year’s challenge, #PowerUp, will engage pupils on how being active helps improve their health, happiness and local environment. 

Thousands of children across the UK will celebrate the benefits of walking during Walk to School Week (16 – 20 May 2022). Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May.

Families will be encouraged to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates. This year’s challenge, #PowerUp, will engage pupils through video game-inspired design, encouraging them to travel sustainably to school every day of the week.

Each day, the #PowerUp challenge will take pupils through five levels: ‘Team Up’, ‘Defeat Danger’ ‘Boost Health’, ‘Save the Planet’ and ‘Lead the Way’. These daily missions will respectively teach them about the social, road safety, physical, mental, and environmental benefits of walking. Daily reward stickers and special 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 to order now.

Last year, a record number of over 350,000 pupils across the UK took part in Walk to School Week, with this year looking to be bigger than ever.

Stephen Edwards, Interim Chief Executive, 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.

“We can’t wait to have more families enjoying the fresh air, freedom, friendship and fun that walking to school brings this Walk to School Week.”

For more information on Walk to School Week and to get your classroom packs, visit livingstreets.org.uk/wtsw