Focus of work
School Streets, which are car‑free, child‑friendly roads outside schools that are closed at drop off and pick up times, are a recognised and effective way of making the school run safer and healthier for children and their families. This small grant from FIT supported Tower Hamlets School Streets to campaign for School Streets in every borough school.
Impact
Since its inception, Tower Hamlets School Streets has raised significant awareness among various politicians, groups and local faith leaders, helping to apply pressure on the council.
Tower Hamlets School Streets secured 730 signatures on a petition which was then addressed at a full council meeting with children speaking passionately about their school street. As a result, 33 school streets were maintained despite the Mayor’s initial plan to remove them all.
Although a school street for Chisenhale Primary School wasn’t reinstated, the Mayor widened pavements around the school to ensure children’s safety and encourage active travel. The school also purchased additional scooter storage to promote wheeled active travel.
Tower Hamlets School Streets ran events to promote a culture of road safety, healthy air, and sustainable travel. The Tower Hamlets Green Party Chair also organised a bike ride, along with Kidical Mass, through the streets of London. Tower Hamlets School Streets also engaged with Tower Hamlets school governors to discuss the campaign and the challenges faced. They met with Neighbourhood Plan leaders, who, despite their own challenges with mayoral support, backed the initiative.
Media coverage was secured in The Standard, Time Out London, Guardian, BBC and more.