Visions and Goals

A*STARS works in partnership with schools, health services, and all Walsall Council departments to encourage and educate whole school communities to adopt healthy lifestyles, reduce congestion and promote road safety.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• Increase the number of pupils using all forms of sustainable travel on the journey to and from schools and provide evidence of modal shift.
• Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyles, road safety and sustainable travel by providing education, training and encouragement.
• IProvide a safer, cleaner environment in the vicinity of schools to benefit everyone.
• Enable schools to take ownership of the programme and promote its key messages to parents and the wider community.

The targets of the programme to be achieved are:

Short term (to August 2014)

• Increase walking and cycling levels by 1%
• Every school to participate in one walking/cycling/road safety campaign
• Provide training and volunteering opportunities for adults
• Provide adult cycle training within the school community
• Every school to have a dedicated school champion
• Every school to have student advocate groups to lead the programme

Long term (by the end of the programme 2016)

• All schools registered on the A*STARS programme
• Increase walking and cycling levels by 1% per annum
• Increase the number of children between the ages of 10 and 16 participating in Bikeability Training in line with Department for Transport targets
• Increase the number of children between the ages of 10 and 16 participating in Bikeability Training in line with Department for Transport targets
• Every primary school participating in Child Pedestrian Training
• Educate young adults about the benefits of safer driving and sustainable travel