The Better Journeys Project launched the Fund for Schools in Guernsey and Jersey at the end of last year.
It offers funding to help schools put in infrastructure or projects that support and encourage alternative travel options.
Six schools applied for a share of a £3,000 pot in the island, sourced from sponsor Appleby Global, the Health Improvement Commission and support from the Tom Dorey Eco-Legacy fund, and judges chose to split the money between projects from Vauvert, the Sixth Form Centre and The Ladies’ College.
The Sixth Form Centre is receiving £1,500 towards a bike loan scheme and drying room which the charity described as ‘ambitious and well-planned’.
Vauvert School will be putting in three scooter racks on the premises, while The Ladies’ College will receive a contribution towards new bike sheds designed by Year 12 students.
‘We were delighted by the quality and number of entries we received, but we can’t fund all of them,’ said Mark Smith, a director of the Better Journeys Project who led the judging panel in Guernsey.
‘After reviewing the entries, we chose the three we felt would have the highest likelihood of success and the most potential for creating meaningful change on school runs.’
Mr Smith said that the judges were impressed with the submissions which clearly showed that the schools had already invested time in understanding the levers and barriers around uptake of alternative transport methods.
Amy Woollaston of the Health Improvement Commission was also on the judging panel.
‘It’s brilliant that this community-led initiative will be directly driving real change across the island for those whose applications have been successful,’ she said.
The charity has shared all competition entries with States Traffic & Highway Services, and it is possible that some of the projects could be funded from States budgets.
The charity plans to run another fund round in November of this year.
It said it believed it was ‘crucial’ to continue to provide sustainable and effective transport options for school pupils.
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