LONGRIDGE HOMEBUILDER HELPS PUPILS GLOW ON THE GO FOR WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH

Pupils at Barnacre Road Primary School in Longridge recently received a donation of hi-vis vests from Barratt Homes to help them shine bright during Walk to School Month in October.

The Lancashire housebuilder gave the school 35 of the hi-vis vests for its Year 4 pupils to use whilst walking to and from school, ensuring they can be easily seen on the roads as the darker nights draw in.

Walk to School Month takes place during October each year and encourages pupils to celebrate the journey to school on foot.

According to figures from the 2021 National Travel Survey (NTS) and 2020-2021 Active Lives Survey (ALS), the number of children walking or cycling to school is falling. In 2021, 46% of children aged between five and 16 walked or cycled to school, a decrease from 50% in 2020.

The government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy features a target to increase the percentage of children that usually walk to school to 55% in 2025.

Fiona Heppenstall, Deputy Headteacher at Barnacre Road Primary School, said: “The contribution of the hi-vests is really useful to school and will help keep the children safe while out walking on the streets. We will make good use of them when the children are going out on visits or in the local area. We thank Barratt Homes for this contribution to school.”

Barnacre Road Primary School is located nearby the homebuilder’s Bowland Meadow development and the donation of hi-vis vests is another part of Barratt Homes’ outreach to the local community.

Walking to school benefits children and their parents by increasing exercise and saving money on fuel, and it can even increase social interaction with other families who choose to walk to school and prevent stress by not driving during the rush hour.

Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “We want to ensure the pupils in the local communities remain visible now the darker nights are here, and our donation has hopefully still encouraged them to safely practice Walk to School Month.

“This is a campaign we actively support each year as we endeavour to help local school children in their efforts to commute on foot, and the vests have proven to be both effective and practical.

“Our Bowland Meadow development is located near to Barnacre Road Primary School, so as families move into their new homes it is important for us to support Walk to School Month and encourage young children to stay safe while walking to and from school.”

Barratt Homes’ hi-vis vests have been particularly useful during Walk to School Month, whilst being certain to benefit the pupils in their future journeys to school throughout the winter months.

Barratt Homes currently has a selection of two, three and four bedroom homes available at Bowland Meadow with prices starting from £195,995.

For more information about the development, please call the sales team on 033 3355 8474 or visit the website at Bowland Meadow.