School girl designer draws up badge motivating youngsters to walk to school

Very creative kid Gina Elliott has received a top honour after her design won a national award.

8-year-old Gina, who goes to Fulwell Junior School in Sunderland, created the design for a collectible badge that will be used to persuade pupils to walk to school as opposed to being driven in the car. Gina, who resides in Fulwell, created the piece based on the idea “when I grow up” to demonstrate her goal of becoming a writer. She was presented the prize at an awards event in London. The badge will be used as a part of the Walk once a Week (WoW) scheme, organised by Living Streets, which encourages pupils to get exercise and improve the natural environment by walking to school. The challenge attracted a large number of entries from students around the United Kingdom. Gina’s father Gavin, 44, reported: “We were happy when Gina was nominated within her own school so to earn a national award was a massive surprise, but we are very happy and extremely proud of her.” Nick Clennett, from Go Smarter, stated: “We want to aid school children to be more fit and healthier along with helping the environment by opting to walk to school at least once a week. “Year after year the kids by themselves develop the custom badges and Gina’s great entry was undoubtedly one of this year’s victors. “Living Streets obtained much more than 12,000 designs from over 4 hundred primary schools so it is really an exceptional accomplishment to be chosen as a winner.” Involvement in the WoW program has been shown to raise walking rates by up to 26%. Every month, pupils that walk to school at least once a week are awarded with badges. Mr Clennett further added: “One in every 5 cars traveling at peak times is dropping kids to school, therefore by encouraging pupils to walk where possible we are able to make a real impact on traffic, pollution and congestion - along with the pupils’ health.” Gina’s badge is going to be available to all of the schools taking part in the WoW program in 2014-15, together with 11 other winning designs.

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