What is Active First?

Active First is a scheme that the Council offers to schools to encourage children to walk or cycle, rather than travel by car.  By encouraging children to walk or cycle, the scheme aims to improve children's health, their ability to travel independently and make them more able to make sustainable travel choices as they get older.

• Each participating child is given a map with various points of interest. 
• There are 20 points on a map and each has an information card associated with it that children can collect as they walk. 
• The more a child walks or cycles the more cards they can collect.  

Children ages 9 and 10 can take part

Active First is available to primary school children in years 4 to 5 (ages 9 and 10). 

How it works

We ask parents to enrol their children in the scheme by registering at their school.  Parents whose children take part in the scheme can decide how many days each week their child will walk or cycle - anything from one day a week to all five.  Each participating child is given a passport that contains a map showing different points of interest.  At the end of each week, if a child has walked or cycled their nominated days, they will receive a stamp in their passport.  There are also collectors cards for children to collect as they travel around the map.

Don't worry if you live too far from the school to walk all the way.  Why not park a little further away from the school and walk the rest of the way?  Of if you live really close to the school, why not walk around the playground to get your stamp and card?

Take part and collect special information cards

Each year the cards and maps are based on a theme.  This  year the theme is the Olympics.  There are 20 Olympic cards for children to collect as they travel around an Olympic stadium on their maps.  If your child walks or cycles every week they will collect all 20 special information cards.

What are the benefits of Active First?

• More children walking and cycling will mean fewer cars on the road
• Walking and cycling can directly benefit your child's health
• Your child can learn about the world around them
• Your child can arrive at school more alert and ready to learn
• Children can learn travel skills that will allow them to travel more independently as they get older 

How can I become involved?

For more information about Active First, please contact Heather Eley, the school travel adviser, on 0118 908 8308 or email: heather.eley@wokingham.gov.uk