23/2/2020

Cardiff Council will deliver more than 450 scooters and balance bikes to schools and play settings this month, providing increased play opportunities for children who may have missed out during COVID-19 whilst supporting schools to promote active travel. 

Funded by Welsh Government'sAll Wales Play Opportunities Grant, the scheme will see Primary, Specialist Resource Bases and Special schools receive a fleet of scooters together with lesson plans and ramps. Resources will be provided to those schools where School Streets are in place to enable street play sessions and Maintained Nurseries and Flying Start provision will also receive scooters and balance bikes, enabling children to play outdoors during break times.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: "Children have missed out on a great deal due to COVID-19 and this scheme will help provide additional opportunities to some of our most disadvantaged pupils.

"Outdoor play boasts a range of positive benefits and the opportunity to engage in scooting and cycling together with support and training, will help children develop skills which they will use for the rest of their lives.

"By providing children and young people with opportunities like this, further supports Cardiff's ambition to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City, helping to make Cardiff a fantastic city to grow up in."

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: "Teams from across the Council have worked together to secure this funding, allowing us to increase outdoor play provision and enhance the activities provided by schools and play schemes across the city

"These new opportunities will help enthuse children to usebalance bikes, scooters and bikessafely and confidently byimproving balance and coordination. As they grow up these skills will make riding a bike much easier and help towardsbehavior changes which over time, will positively impact on their futures. This includes improving physical and emotional wellbeing as well as reducing emissions for a greener environment to live in."

"This is one of many projects helping towards transform the city's public transport system, promoting more forms of Active Travel and importantly, responding to the climate emergency as set out in Cardiff's Capital Ambition.
  

This latest scheme is one of several projects to be delivered through the All Wales Play Opportunities Grant which supports and increases play opportunities, in line with the Cardiff Play Sufficiency Assessment.