Walk to School Week

You still have a chance to get those last minute prizes for all the excellent schemes that have taken place over this week. We have some great prizes for instance why not look at the promotional pencils which can have your own logo printed on them. So why not take a look at our website Brightkidz.co.uk and give us a call.

Reduce speeding in our villages

Brake has once more raised the question of a 20mph speed limit for towns and villages. At an international conference held in London today, they have highlighted the fact that a car driven at 20mph or lower can stop in 12 metres (about three lengths) or less, giving the driver a good chance to brake and stop in time if a child runs out ahead. Any increases on this speed then reduce the safe stopping distance of cars and the casualty outcome. Therefore we really do need to revisit the whole issue of speeding in our towns and villages.

The Social Enterprise Mark

We are in celebratory mood after having been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark which identifies us as trading for social and environmental purposes.

The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises and was launched 1st February 2010. The Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprises and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and the planet.

Well done brightkidz!

Walk to School Week

Everyone is at it this month with "Walk to School Week" kicking off on the 17th May until the 21st May. This year the theme is "Walk your Way" focusing on how walking to school helps children learn vital orientating skills to help them navigate and get to know their local area, improving confidence and safety.

We have some great products to help everyone participate in this great scheme

Moonwalk London 2010

On a foolish whim last year I agreed to take part in the Playtex Moonwalk in London, organised by Walk the Walk to raise awareness and money for breast cancer causes. Only now, with 3 weeks to go the full realisation that I have to walk 26 miles starting at midnight, wearing only a bra, is starting to sink in!!

Everyone here at Brightkidz is being great, offering lots of support and encouragement and you certainly wont miss me in all of my highvis gear definitely putting the company motto of "Seeing you go safely" to the test. Training is going well with a possible walk of 18 - 20 miles tomorrow. Keep a look out for further bulletins.

Bike to School Week

Did you know that next week 26 - 30 April is Bike to School Week which is an excellent way to get youngsters on their bikes. There are so many benefits for children from cycling to school, not only are they fitter, they are more alert at school and making the most of this fine weather. Whilst many parents may be concerned about the safety aspect of children cycling to school, if you don some highvis gear, be it a waistcoat, or reflector or sash, then they have more chance of being spotted by motorists.

So why not give us a call or check out the website Brightkidz.co.uk to get some promotional items to make your Bike to School Week go with a swing.

Sustainable Schools Event Workshop

At the beginning of March Brightkidz held a very successful day's workshop to provide ideas on how to promote walking to school. The session was fun and practical, getting the children outside in the fresh air which makes them more active and alert. It also helps them and their teachers understand different walk to school schemes.

The workshop was a big hit with everyone getting involved and appearing to enjoy themselves. If you are interested in holding your own workshops why not take a look at our website http://www.brightkidz.co.uk/walking-to-school/event-workshops.html for more ideas.

Easter is on its way!

Where does the time go? To think that it is Easter next weekend and the children on holiday once more. Thankfully the weather is improving, nights are getting lighter and all the bikes are coming out of the shed. Did you know that according to Sustrans research in early 2009, that 79% of British women never cycle at all. To help remedy this situation Sustrans has produced a guide called Bike Belles which is packed full of ideas, tips and advice to help you enjoy enjoy riding your bike. So go on get your bike out and experience the joy of cycling.

St Patricks Day

As today is St Patrick's day why not wear something green? Here at Brightkidz we have plenty of eye catching items so you too can have the luck of the Irish. How about a high viz waistcoat for when you are going to and from your St Patrick's day event!

Clocks changing

We've only 2 more weeks before the clocks go forward giving us an extra hour of daylight. So this means that we can all get out and about in the extra daylight. It's interesting to note that recent research by Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, has shown that 79% of British Woman never cycle at all. Why is that? In an attempt to get more women cycling they have produced a guide called "The Bike Belles Guide" which can be downloaded free from their site. So come on all you women lets get out on those bikes and see what we've been missing!

Bike week this year is 19-27 June.

Team Green Britain, founded by EDF energy is sponsoring this year's bike week.

Find out more at www.bikeweek.org.uk.

• Find out what events are taking place near you.
• Register your event if you are organising one
• Lots of useful hints and tips for participants and organisers.
• There is also a cycling calculator that calculates how much money you save by cycling to work.

I'm not all that impressed with the calculator as all you do is enter the miles cycled and it multiplies that by 40p which is the cost you can claim from the government for private miles. If I drive a Jag I'm sure it will cost me more to get to work than a Fiat Panda. They say that a health benefits calculator is on the way. How many calories do you burn per mile?

Walk to Work Week

The organisation "Walking Works" has announced that they will be holding a Walk to Work week from 26 - 30 April 2010 - an excellent incentive to walk off all those Easter Eggs! To help achieve this they have set 5 challenges:

• try walking all or part of the way to work
• try walking all or part of the way from work
• hold a walking meeting
• walk all or part of the way to the meeting
• take a walk during a lunch break

Hopefully with the weather improving it gives added impetus to get out there. If during your lunch break you fancy a walk, you could always pack your high viz rucksack with a brightsportz water bottle and off you go.

Adrenaline Alley - Social Enterprise in Action

How not to cycle to school!!!

Just visited Adrenaline Alley - very well-named indoor urban sports area in Corby, Northants which attracts BMXers and skateboarders from all over the UK and overseas to perform their amazing stunts. It is also a great facility for the young people of Corby... providing a good environment to practice their skills and keep them entertained.

It's in a converted old chicken factory now fitted out with massive ramps and jumps including the 'vert' ramp (as in 'vertical') which I was invited to slide down (this involved a tad too much adrenaline for me so I declined). We also saw kids practising stunts with their scooters and in-line skates.

Mandy Young is the genius behind this really successful project and she and her team have picked up a stream of awards for their success.

Adrenaline Alley, like BrightKidz, is a social enterprise - an economically sustainable business providing social benefits with any excess income ploughed back into the organisation. It's great to meet up with other social entrepreneurs and understand the passion behind their business.

Walking to School Poems

Gosh the walking bus is everywhere - on a recent visit to the Lake District I came across a super leaflet produced by Capita Symonds and Cumbria County Councils called "Walking to School Poems". These were the results of a competition run by Cumbria County Council as part of their "Better Ways to School" campaign. This initiative is aimed at reducing unnecessary car journeys and improving safety along routes to and from School. The poems are definitely worth a read and make you want to walk to school just so you can say them!