Publicity within the local community

Suitable for all schools and nurseries.

Overview

Education phase

Early years Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4 Key stage 5 Key stage 1

Category of activity

Supporting

Types of activity

Promotion

How it helps

Encourages community involvement
Supports all TfL Travel for Life travel activities

About the activity

As soon as you begin to see the positive impact of your activities, you can start spreading the word about the benefits of active travel amongst pupils’ families, the school’s neighbours and even with your local press!

A successful TfL Travel for Life programme benefits both your school and the wider community, so let them know about all the hard work you’re putting in and how it’s helping your pupils and the local area. In turn, you will help to enhance your school’s reputation within the community.

Here are some ideas for promoting your hard work:

Press

Let your local newspapers know about how your pupils are making a positive contribution to their community. They are likely to be particularly interested if you’re organising a big event such as a sponsored walk or cycle, or something a little bit different. If your school has an event coming up, invite your local press along!

Website

Include active travel updates and news of your success on your school’s website – you could even ask your pupils to write a regular blog post. Visitors and families of pupils new and old will be able to find out about all the great activities you’ve been doing along with the school’s travel policies and practices.

Social media

Whichever your preferred social media platform, use it to your advantage to post news about upcoming and successful events. Post bright, fun photos and short snappy stories to engage with your school community about active travel online and ask your followers to share what you’ve been up to to spread the word even further.

News bulletin

Send out a travel newsletter or TfL Travel for Life update to the school’s local community to let them know about the different activities you’ve run and their impact.

How to evidence your activity

Record any feedback from your local community
Add your story to "my activities" on the TfL Travel for Life website. Explain your activity and include copies of newsletters, press articles, links or screen shots of social media posts and links to relevant pages on your website

Activity steps

Step 1

Plan to promote. Work with your school travel group and borough officer to decide how you would like to promote your TfL Travel for Life work with your local community

Step 2

Use your contacts. Ask colleagues and your borough officer who they know - do you have a contact at your local paper or radio station who you could invite to cover successful TfL Travel for Life activities and events?

Step 3

Celebrate success. Use your website and social media channels to shout about your TfL Travel for Life work and the progress the school's making. Share fun pictures and links to blog posts and articles

Step 4

Tell your story. Upload your evidence to "my activities"