A Royal Challenge

Schools re-signing for the KM Charity Team’s Active Wow (Walk on Wednesday) initiative this term will be in the running to take part in a number of extra challenge events. The green travel scheme will play a prominent role next year when the charity celebrates its 20th birthday.

The most exciting challenge that the KM Charity Team hopes will be approved would involve a member of the Royal Family being a VIP storyteller. The plan is that a group of children from 50 winning classes would represent their schools and attend a joint story reading session next academic year.

As Simon Dolby, CEO of the charity, explained: “We have had two discussions about the plan with the Lord Lieutenant of Kent's team, who approve in principle and are minded to support us in making a formal request to St James' Palace."

“Classes will be picked based on their walk to school stats on a specific week which schools will be notified about well in advance. We are advised that if approved we will be allowed to promote this publicly in advance but not state the venue or date the story reading session would take place, for security reasons. Only winning schools would be told these details."

“Schools with a winning class will have the difficult task of selecting the small group of pupils from the class to attend the event. At this stage we do not know whether if will be two, four or six children. It could well depend on which venue is selected."

“Naturally we have no idea if this will find favour with St James' Palace, but as this is a possibility I wanted schools to be aware that this might feature in our special 20th anniversary celebrations.”

Schools can sign up or renew for Active Wow by contacting the KM Charity Team’s Walk to School Coordinator Kathy Beel or by visiting the KM Walk To School website

Fact File:

• KM Charity Team has run the walk to school initiative in the south east for 19 years.
• In 2005 the charity was awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition for its walking bus initiative in Kent.
• Each year more than 500,000 green healthy journeys are generated through the initiative and more than 4,000 children take one of the charity's bronze, silver and gold road safety skill tests.
• In 19 years the initiative has generated more than 7 million green healthy journeys.

Contact Details

Kathy Beel
Telephone: 08442 640291
Email: kbeel@thekmgroup.co.uk