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| Di Merwood from Denne and Gareth Roberts from Argyll Insurance with the Herne Bay winners |
Outstanding commitment and dedication have proved to be a winning combination for helpers on a Herne Bay walking bus.
Briary Primary School took the top volunteer team title at the KM Walk to School Awards on Friday night.
The successful scheme at Briary School has been entirely parent-driven in the interests of the children.
Simon Dolby, chairman of the KM Charity Team, which runs the KM Walk to School schemes, said “A very special innovation at Briary Primary has been the brilliant ‘shop’ run by volunteers from a table at the school on a Friday afternoon.
“It was set up with help from the school’s Friends, the parent/teachers association and children who walk get a stamp each time, which they save up for vouchers.
“If they bank up a number they can get something really special from the “shop” with a small prize for a single walk.”
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| | Di Merwood from Denne presents Gill O'Connell with her award |
The school’s head teacher Ben Cooper praised the team for their “outstanding commitment and dedication”.
He said after re-launching the scheme, they set up not one but two walking buses, which have proved highly popular and successful.
Herne Bay Junior also came away with an award on the night as the top Walk on Wednesday (WOW) school.
Mr Dolby said they have taken 804 school run car journeys off the road in terms one and two.
Pupils gave many reasons why they like walking to school including the environmental benefits of reducing their carbon footprint, giving the family more exercise and stopping traffic jams.
In Whitstable three were recognised for their commitment to walking bus schemes.
Joy Lane Primary School picked up the title of top established walking bus.
Simon Dolby, chairman of the KM Charity Team, which runs the walk to school schemes said: “Joy Lane’s walking bus may only be small but it has huge commitment and endurance.
“The bus took part in the town’s carnival for the second time in 2009 despite the pouring rain, promoting the benefits of the scheme.”
Top member of staff for the Canterbury area was Gill O’Connell, family liaison officer at St Alphege Infant School.
She started helping the Grimshill Walking Bus, which links three schools, when it first started in 2004.
Mr Dolby said: “Gill is the longest running member of the team, is consistently at the first bus stop at 8.25am, scarcely ever missing a day.
“A colleague described her as always cheerful and friendly and never put off by bad weather or illness, a real star.”
He added that the top new walking bus was at Swalecliffe Primary School, where volunteers attribute their success to “fantastic enthusiasm from the children and outstanding teamwork from the mums.”
The bus is used by children of all ages, enabling them to make a different set of friends beyond their usual classmates.
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| The Whitstable winners with Di Merwood of Denne and Gareth Roberts from Argyll Insurance |