Sustrans Award For Afon Y Felin Primary

Afon Y Felin Primary School in North Cornelly has joined a select group of local schools to achieve the Silver School Mark Award from Sustrans Cymru – the charity that encourages people to take more journeys by walking, cycling, scooting and public transport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sustrans Cymru Schools Officer Roger Dutton said: “Congratulations to Afon y Felin Primary School on achieving this award. The pupils and staff have worked really hard over the last couple of years, acquiring funding from the Kenfig Trust for bike and scooter storage and holding events such as the Christmas bling, where they added festive decorations to their bikes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They are also one of the many local schools that take part in the annual Big Pedal challenge which invites pupils, parents and staff to clock up as many two wheel journeys as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Bridgend County Borough schools participating in the Active Journeys programme over the last two years have seen an average 11 per cent drop in pupils usually coming by car, and a fourfold increase in pupils coming by bike or scooter.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Roger added: “The other local Active Journeys primary schools that have earned the Silver Award so far are Brackla, Brynmenyn, Llangwynyd, Cornelli, Coychurch, Garth and Nantymoel. Who will be first to get Gold?” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Afon Y Felin Headteacher Nicola Williams said: “We are very proud of our long-term commitment to cycling, scooting and walking to school. We’re delighted that our efforts have been recognised by Sustrans Cymru, and I’d like to thank parents for their outstanding support. Over the last 18 months, the number of pupils arriving at school by car has fallen significantly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Charles Smith, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “Improved infrastructure around Cornelly thanks to ‘safe routes in the community’ funding has made cycling a safer and more realistic option for local families, while Afon Y Felin’s new bike shed is also making a big impact. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In all, this is a great example of how a combination of making routes to school safer, providing excellent covered bike storage, and promoting active travel can create a shift from a car culture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s also fantastic to hear that the levels of cycling and scooting are on the rise at so many other schools, as an active school run not only helps children to keep fit, but it also boosts their concentration levels, can improve their wellbeing and is obviously good for the environment too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Any Bridgend County Borough primary schools who would like to take part in the Active Journeys programme can apply at www.sustrans.org.uk/wales/activejourneys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year’s Big Pedal challenge takes place from 20 – 31 March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​