Youth Travel Ambassador Programme

Posted at 11:59 am on 22nd February, 2022

Students Raise Awareness of Active Travel

Wellacre is pleased to be taking part in the Youth Travel Ambassador Programme (YTA.) We are one of only ten schools across Greater Manchester chosen to work with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to provide young people with the skills and confidence to address transport issues affecting their school community.   

Mrs Eagling, Teacher of Maths, will lead the group in promoting Active Travel as part of Wellacre’s Co-Curricular programme.

The group welcomed Kelly Leat from TfGM to officially launch the project and talk to the ambassadors about the programme.  She explained how to research and create an effective campaign to promote Active Travel as well as discussing the numerous benefits.

Mrs Eagling said:

“Wellacre’s Youth Travel Ambassadors will be researching, developing and delivering a campaign to improve Active Travel in school and they will be asking students, staff and the school community for their support. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only help make a valuable difference to the community and the environment, but also to boost their team, communication, design and project management skills.”  

To help with their research, the team of Year 7 Youth Travel Ambassadors sent out an initial survey to tutor groups to ask about everyone’s current mode of transport to school and their preferred mode of transport if they were given a choice, from walking to car sharing. 

The results will help them to start thinking about what their campaign will focus on and will also be shared with TfGM.

Students have looked at the issues currently in our community, which have serious consequences including congestion, traffic pollution, dangerous parking and road safety.

They will also learn more about Active Travel and it’s positive benefits such as improving health and mental wellbeing, reducing congestion, carbon emissions and air pollution, and saving money.

Mrs Sharrock, Principal, commented:

“It is really important that young people are motivated to participate in shaping policy and practice around issues which affect them directly. I look forward to the group’s feedback on their progress over the coming months.”