South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard and Active Travel Commissioner Ed Clancy OBE visited Goldthorpe Primary Academy in Barnsley on Friday 15 March to hear from pupils about how they’re creating more opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling in their community.
Mayor Coppard and Ed Clancy were invited to an active travel lesson with our Sport and Physical Activity team and Year 5 pupils before participating in a RampUP session which gave young people the chance to get active by cycling and scooting on portable street ramps.
Mayor Coppard has committed to supporting more activity and movement at schools in South Yorkshire as a key element of the 'Year of Active Travel', promoting health, wellbeing and community.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “We’re building a happier, healthier South Yorkshire.
“That means giving our communities more and better choices about how to travel and stay active. We need to support children and young people to develop good habits at an early age. They need to be able to get to and from school healthily and safely. That’s what my Year of Active Travel is about - creating more opportunities to move more and move differently.
“The RampUP project helps children and young people see and feel the benefits of cycling and scooting at school. It gives children in Barnsley the chance to take part in a fun and structured activity in their community, developing an interest in physical activity, encouraging inclusivity, and building confidence in active travel from a young age. All of which can ultimately contribute to healthier lives and a better future.”
Councillor James Higginbottom, Cabinet spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: "RampUP was a huge success for us last year and we're pleased to be bringing it back again in 2024.
"Staying active is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing, so it's fantastic to see so many children and young people making the most of the opportunities the RampUP sessions bring. It's a creative way to engage them with cycling and scooting, combining practical and educational elements to teach them about active travel.
"We're grateful to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for their support of our active travel activities, which are delivered by our fantastic Sport and Physical Activity team.
"We're continuing to invest in active travel so that it is at the heart of our communities, allowing people to walk and cycle on our fantastic network of off-road routes more frequently and to help support our ambition of a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Barnsley."
RampUP is part of the innovative active travel approach which reached more than 5600 children and young people covering 83% of primary schools in the borough.
RampUP is visiting schools and communities across Barnsley throughout the Mayor’s Year of Active Travel. For more information email schoolsactivetravel@barnsley.gov.uk.
Find out more about the Mayor’s Year of Active Travel at southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/explore/south-yorkshire-year-of-active-travel.
