Article Source: FEL Scotland
Last Updated: 1 May 2024 10:06
Environmental charity FEL Scotland is celebrating five years of its school-based active travel hubs, marking a significant milestone for the innovative education programme that has inspired teenagers, teachers and the wider community to lead more active lives.
SUCCESS STORY
In 2019, FEL pioneered Scotland's inaugural school active travel hub at Lornshill Academy with funding from Paths for All’s Open Fund. Five years on, the Alloa based high school is reporting cycling rates nearly seven times the national average for secondary schools (9% vs 1.3%).
Since launching its first school-based hub, FEL has successfully expanded the project across four more secondaries in Forth Valley. Funds from Paths for All’s Active Nation Fund have enabled the charity to open hubs at Alloa Academy, Bannockburn High, Balfron High and Larbert High.
Project co-ordinator Jodie Murdoch said: “With the introduction of Balfron High and Larbert High to the programme late last year, we’re strengthening our commitment to making daily walking, cycling and wheeling more accessible for all.
"Our hubs are strategically situated within secondary schools with the aim of not only transforming the travel culture within the school community, but also reaching and influencing the catchment primary schools and the broader community.
“As community anchor institutions, our high schools play a pivotal role in promoting healthier modes of travel and nurturing a shared ethos of environmental stewardship and wellbeing."
DEDICATED SUPPORT
To lead this transformation, FEL has assigned a dedicated full-time project officer to each school, as Jodie explained:
“Our school hub officers lead a diverse range of daily activities, including guided rides and walks, outdoor health and wellbeing sessions, bike maintenance classes, active travel taster sessions, nature walks, primary transition work, and even skateboarding!
“These opportunities to be more physically active have been extended to the wider community too through our Community Bike Library and Community Skills Academy."
POSITIVE IMPACT
One of the programme’s biggest success stories is the positive impact on young people with complex and significant needs; with the five school hubs offering dedicated ASN sessions.
Bannockburn High Principal Teacher of Pupil Support, Lorna Shepherd said: "The students supported by our service are really excited about the Active Travel Hub. They look forward to their sessions and always return with interesting stories to tell.
“The Hub’s alternative teaching style has had a big effect, helping students overcome difficulties they might have had in regular classes. Now they approach learning with enthusiasm and are keen to collaborate with the Hub team.
“We’ve also seen an improvement in attendance from students who used to find traditional schooling challenging, thanks to the fun and practical sessions the Hub offers such as the SQA in bike maintenance."
Praising the project during recent visit to Bannockburn High School’s hub, Council Leader Chris Kane said: “We know the significant health and wellbeing benefits of walking, cycling and wheeling so it’s fantastic to see our young people at Bannockburn High and other schools embracing FEL’s active travel hubs.
“It’s vital we change our daily travel habits to more sustainable modes of travel, not only to encourage people to live healthier lives, but to help reduce carbon emissions and protect our natural environment for future generations.
“FEL’s innovative programme is giving our young people and school communities the support, confidence and learning to make that transition, and it was great to come along to Bannockburn High and see some of the activities taking place at the hub.”
FUTURE PLANS
FEL is now optimistic that the model's success will attract further funding, enabling the charity and it partners to roll it the programme out to schools across Scotland.
FEL Executive Director, Clara Walker said: “We’re currently working with over 4,000 young people, so just think of the potential for people and planet if this tried and tested model was to be scaled up.
“We warmly invite schools and local authorities interested in learning more to reach out to us."
THE highly anticipated team-up of Deadpool & Wolverine is finally arriving at screens across the UK and Ireland this weekend at Vue Cinemas.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s award-winning Cold Town Brewery has launched a nationwide search to appoint an honorary chief taster to help develop its new summer beer range.
READ MOREJoin a very special session on Zoom as The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) celebrates The Gruffalo's 25th birthday, in partnership with Macmillan Children's Books!
READ MORECharity appeals for Footpath Fund donations as countryside visitors increase by 16 percent in first half of the year.
READ MOREMusic lovers have a lot to celebrate this summer at Vue, with three exciting titles hitting the big screen – including BLACKPINK’s latest concert film.
READ MOREGo Forth Stirling, the city’s BID (Business Improvement District), is hosting a Mini-Olympics with fun and games for all the family in the pedestrianised section of Port Street.
READ MOREIn the halls of Bannockburn House a team of dedicated volunteers have uncovered a rare and fascinating piece of history that could have altered the story of the nation.
READ MOREMacrobert Arts Centre is delighted to announce the return of the annual Christmas Appeal, which provides local disadvantaged families and young people with tickets to Macrobert’s pantomime.
READ MOREIn response to Scotlands gloomy and grey summer weather, Aldi Scotland has launched a nationwide hunt for the country’s Ultimate BBQ Ambassador.
READ MOREThe landscape photography competition will run until October with three prizes up for grabs!
READ MORETrust in the Park has teamed up with renowned round-the-world cyclist and filmmaker Markus Stitz to showcase Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park’s accessible routes this summer.
READ MOREOn 22 August, the team at Impact Arts will raise a glass to three decades of life-changing work, as Scotland's leading creative engagement charity prepares to mark its 30th anniversary.
READ MOREA series of blooming planters are adding a welcome splash of colour across Stirling city centre this summer.
READ MOREDobbies is celebrating National Allotment Week by inviting gardening enthusiasts across the country to a series of free Grow How workshops throughout the month, focusing on allotment gardening.
READ MORENeurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre collaborates with local creative organisations to create opportunities and support the transition to life beyond school.
READ MORESituated in the heart of the historic region is the iconic Crieff Hydro Hotel, which has announced a host of exciting summer activities for the whole family to get involved in.
READ MOREAn incredible eight businesses and individuals in the Stirling area are in the running for the prestigious Scottish Thistle Awards.
READ MOREArtists and creatives in the Stirling area are being invited to put their ideas forward to design trophies for the prestigious Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
READ MORERenfrew's Robertson Park will host Scotland's top piping talent once again as the Renfrew Pipe Band Competition returns to the town on Saturday 20th July.
READ MOREVisitScotland has analysed over 11,500 books on the Goodreads database to reveal readers’ top-rated books set in Scotland and the regions most frequently depicted in literature.
READ MOREScotland's biggest live music event has been confirmed to go ahead next year, and fans can get their hands on early bird tickets this week.
READ MOREAction Glen Adventure Park, located at Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire will welcome a trio of robotic-dinos on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July.
READ MORECommunity groups in Scotland to be awarded grants ranging from £10,000 to £25,000.
READ MOREBe Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) is thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the third BIH Spotlight Awards.
READ MOREOn the first day of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick, young golfers from across Scotland received a surprise visit from the tournament’s official championship trophy.
READ MOREBorders stately home Floors Castle is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its Inflatable Insanity giant obstacle course this summer!
READ MORESleeping Warrior Theatre Company are delighted to bring their latest musical extravaganza, To Save The Sea, to Scottish stages this autumn.
READ MOREScotland's national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year Award, has launched, inviting artists, music fans and labels to submit eligible albums and be in the running for the prestigious prize.
READ MOREThe inaugural Summer Sessions at Stirling City Park have won widespread praise after thousands of music fans attended a series of headline concerts in the shadow of Stirling Castle.
READ MOREDobbies is inviting children aged 4-10 to a free and interactive Little Seedlings workshop on Sunday 4th August, that includes a dedicated gardening Show and Tell.
READ MORE