St Kenneth’s Primary School emerged as the winners of the Beat the Street East Kilbride active travel challenge 2024. They surpassed competitors like Our Lady of Lourdes, Crosshouse, Mossneuk, and others to clinch the title. The local residents, businesses, and community groups in East Kilbride engaged in walking, cycling, and wheeling activities over the past six weeks as part of the challenge.
The town of East Kilbride transformed into a real-life game setting to promote walking and cycling over driving, encouraging people to explore green spaces and waterways. Over 13,000 participants of all ages signed up for the challenge, collectively covering a distance of 121,628 miles through active travel. Greenburn Primary secured the highest average points, followed by St Hilary’s, St Louise, and Mount Cameron Primary. Auldhouse Primary received recognition for their active participation, with Our Lady of Lourdes winning the highest school percentage participation award.
Furthermore, ‘Beat Boxes’ were strategically placed on lampposts around the area to guide participants in exploring the local community. Various schools and community teams also competed in the challenge, with Friends of St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School and EKCC Juniors topping their respective categories. Additionally, individual winners were acknowledged, with Silent Echo and Olly T leading the adult and children’s leaderboards.
Councillor Robert Brown, Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, commended the success of the Beat the Street East Kilbride initiative. He highlighted the positive impact of the competition in encouraging active travel and supporting local initiatives. The game also contributed to a donation of £500 to Kilbryde Hospice.
Despite the conclusion of the challenge, the spirit of Beat the Street will persist in promoting physical activity and showcasing local opportunities for the community to stay active. Beat the Street East Kilbride is organised by Intelligent Health on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council, with support from South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
In summary, St Kenneth’s Primary School emerged victorious in the Beat the Street East Kilbride active travel challenge, promoting sustainable modes of travel and fostering community engagement in a fun and competitive manner. Through collective efforts, participants not only embraced active travel but also supported a local charity, epitomising the spirit of community wellness and collaboration.