Pupils in South Ayrshire are enjoying the benefits of walking to school thanks to a new community project. 

Three schools in Troon have already launched WOW – the Walk to School Challenge from Living Streets Scotland, which rewards those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school with a WOW badge.   

The three schools involved are St Patrick’s Primary, Troon Primary and Struthers Primary. 

In Scotland, over 150 primary schools take part in WOW, which sees pupils record their journey to school on the interactive WOW Travel Tracker.

WOW schools reportedly see on average a 5-10 per cent increase in pupils walking to school with a corresponding drop in car use, helping to reduce congestion and improve safety outside the school gates. 

The schools are taking part in WOW as part of Living Streets Scotland’s Walking Places project, which is funded through the Active Nation Fund from Paths for All.

It takes an intergenerational approach in South Ayrshire, working with five schools and the communities around them to understand how people move about and to support them to choose to walk or wheel more of their local journeys. 

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Each school will participate in WOW and be offered a workshop looking at the benefits of walking or wheeling and the barriers faced by community members living within a 10-minute radius of the school. 

Anne Docherty, Project Manager at Living Streets Scotland, said: “Living Streets Scotland wants to make walking and wheeling easy and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background.  

“We are delighted to be launching our intergeneration project, Walking Places, in Troon and Muirhead.  

“We want to learn what issues matter to the schools and surrounding communities and to encourage walking or wheeling for local journeys”. 

Barbara Rae, Road Safety Officer at Ayrshire Roads Alliance, said: “As well as being the healthier option, travelling actively to and from school with your child boosts concentration in class and develops lifelong road safety skills.”