Why? in 1971 8 in 10 seven and eight year olds walked or cycled to school on their own (1) in 2009 over 8 in 10 children aged seven to ten were accompanied to school by adults, with 42% of primary school children travelling by car (2) in 1973 three quarters of children played on the streets around their home (3) by 2006 15% of children played on streets around their home (3) What are the consequences? congestion and CO2 – 1 in 5 cars on the road in urban areas at 8.35 am are taking children to school (4). The school run generates 2 million tonnes of CO2 (5) less active kids – by 2050 70% of girls and 55% of boys in the UK could be overweight or obese (6) a loss of freedom – nearly 50% of kids in Sustrans schools want to cycle to school, only 4% do (7), and 73% of children would like to play out more where they live (8) What’s stopping kids being free range? traffic speed and volume: • 56% of adults accompany children to school because of fear of traffic – nearly twice as many as are concerned by stranger danger (2) • 64% of children are concerned about traffic where they live (8) lack of traffic awareness in children – 23% of parents are concerned by this (9) What does Sustrans want? We want to see a new generation of happy, healthy, bright and independent free range kids. Free Range Kids are children and young people who experience freedom from their front door. They have the confidence to travel independently, play outdoors and explore their local community, and have the skills, opportunities and support to do so What is Sustrans doing? providing information – web-based content and downloads, blogs and comment pieces, polls and advocacy campaigns, showcasing our work and the things that need to change pushing for change – free range kids pledge, free range kids pack, advocacy and policy asks such as 20mph and our pledge delivering on the ground – all our work makes more free range kids possible What are our ambitions? two things to be mainstreamed: • area-wide 20mph speed limits in residential and built-up areas • investment in safe routes to make walking and cycling the norm for local journeys made by children, particularly to school Early Day Motion • • • We’re also making sure that politicians know what the issues are through our Early Day Motion (EDM). The Free Range Kids EDM calls on the Government to reverse the decline in the proportion of children walking and cycling to school; acknowledges the barriers which prevent children from being able to walk, cycle and play outside as a result of safety concerns; and urges Ministers across transport, health, environment and education briefs to work in a joined-up way to inspire, encourage and support local authorities to invest consistently and coherently over the next 10 years to create safe and pleasant environments for walking and cycling which will not only benefit the health of children but also the environment and communities. Over 100 MP’s have signed the EDM but we need many more in order for it to be successful. Free Range Kids Pledge •We're calling for 20mph speed limits in residential areas and investment in walking and cycling routes, particularly to school. •Supported by Free Range Kids Ambassador Miranda Krestnovikoff "I urge you to sign this pledge so kids can once again be free range. At the end of the campaign I will personally deliver the pledge to politicians and make sure they take notice." Free Range Kids Website • Over 124,000 unique visits to the website since launch • Downloadable activity sheets to encourage children to be more free range • Family and school specific resources • My Dream Streets competition How can you help? • help spread the word to professional (and personal) networks • become a partner organisation and link to our Free Range Kids website • Help promote our Early Day Motion • let us know about events, new research, campaigns, or other useful developments that we could promote or debate through Free Range Kids References 1. Hillman, Adams, Whitelegg, 1990 One False Move - A Study of Children's Independent Mobility 2. 3. Department for Transport, 2010 National Travel Survey 2009 Play England and Sustrans, 2008 Places to Go? A summary of research evidence Department for Transport, 2008 Personal Travel Factsheet Sutton Trust, 2005 No More School Run Government Office for Science, 2007 Foresight – Tackling Obesities: Future Choices Sustrans, 2010 Bike It Review 2009 Play England, 2010 Playday 2010 Opinion Research Summary Sustrans, 2011 Road Safety & Awareness Survey (by YouGov) 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.