‘Be Bright Get Walking’ Press Release

Alison Holland, Safe Kids Walking Ltd (BrightKidz)

Sunday 1 October 2006 – for immediate release

 Campaign Aim:

To encourage children to wear or carry something bright for visibility and regularly to walk to and from school.

 Campaign Launch:

Monday 2 October 2006 – ongoing

 Background:

Walking to school is clearly beneficial for all children but the fear of traffic may influence parents to take the car instead. What makes it worse is that dark school uniform and other clothing make it difficult for drivers to see children walking along. But if they wear or carry something fluorescent and reflective, or at least bright, they would be more visible and therefore safer – and this might encourage more parents to let their children walk.

 Many children and even parents are unaware that to be bright they only need to carry or wear anything fluorescent in daytime or reflective at night. High-vis might make people think ‘industrial clothing’ … but  it doesn’t have to be a yellow jacket; there are lots of fun, attractive alternatives.

 The ‘Be Bright Get Walking’ campaign is organised by Safe Kids Walking Ltd (BrightKidz), a social enterprise set up in 2004 by parents to promote walk to school schemes and high visibility clothing for children.

 Alison Holland, BrightKidz founder and a mother of three, says: ‘We all want the best for our children and making sure they regularly and safely walk to and from school helps them in so many ways.’

 Events:

26 September: Pre-launch activities at PeterHillsPrimary School, Rotherhithe (see separate press release)

 2-6 October: Five events at schools across Northamptonshire in partnership with the launch of the county’s Junior Road Safety Officers scheme (run by Northamptonshire County Council), see separate press release. Press welcome. Main event: Friday 6 October, Northampton (phone for details 01536 454994).

 17 October: Information afternoon for schools as part of School Travel Plan Awards in  Hackney, London (press release to be issued or phone us for details).

 28 October: Come and meet us and find out how to ‘Be seen at Halloween’  at the Haunted Halloween event, FermynWoodsCountryPark, Brigstock, Northants (for event ticket sales and information contact the CountryPark direct).

 Be Bright:

Free downloadable educational resources from www.brightkidz.co.uk  on how to be bright

•  getting across the ‘fluorescent for day, reflective for night’ message
•  highlighting the importance of fluorescent colours in poor daylight, such as near dusk when children are usually walking home from school.
•  showing that ‘being bright’ isn’t just about wearing a ‘special’ yellow jacket; there are other fluorescent colours, it can be something you wear or carry and it can look good.
•  product information and online sales. (As a common ownership cooperative all income from sales is used to cover costs and campaign work – no profits are distributed).

 Get Walking:

Information on walk to school schemes such as the Walking Bus and Park & Stride from our website www.safekidswalking.org.uk. written from a parent’s point of view. Links to other resources and organisations with similar aims such as Living Streets, Sustrans and Brake. Downloadable guides How to Get More Kids Walking to School and Great Ways to Get to School.

 Links to Website:

Link to www.brightkidz.co.uk for easy access to campaign details, Be Bright activity ideas, walk to school schemes and product information.

 Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Alison Holland, telephone 01536 454994, email alison@safekidswalking.org.uk.
2. For photo information, contact as above. Some photos available for use or appointments to take photos can be arranged.
3. Safe Kids Walking (BrightKidz) is a social enterprise promoting walk to school schemes and high visibility clothing for children. Company limited by guarantee without share capital and constituted as a common ownership cooperative. Registered in England 50669325.
4. Safe Kids Walking Ltd (BrightKidz) is supported by Co-operative Action which promotes the development of co-operative, mutual and social enterprise solutions. Established in 2002, the fund awards grants and loans of between £5,000 and £75,000 to co-operative projects from energy and agriculture to retailing and childcare.
5. Member of Northamptonshire Child Casualty Reduction Working Group.
6. Presentations: Be Bright Get Walking – Linking sustainable transport to road safety education, Institute of Road Safety Officers conference July 2006.
7. Previous funders include: Awards for All, Kettering Borough Council, ACRE Northamptonshire, Social Enterprise Development Fund.
8. Awards: Midlands Regional Winner HSBC Start Up Stars 2006, Pride In Northamptonshire Transforming Our Environment Award 2005, Community and Environment handbag.com Barclays Business Plan Award 2004.
9. Campaign funding: This campaign launch is funded by Safe Kids Walking Ltd (BrightKidz) with the support of Co-operative Action. We are in the process of applying for external funding to enable us to expand the campaign. Any offers of sponsorship from or collaboration with appropriate partners are welcome.