Celebrating Healthier School Neighbourhoods in Buckinghamshire

Healthy School Neighbourhoods is a pilot project targeting areas where factors such as poor air quality, fast-food takeaways, less access to green space and walking and cycling routes, tend to impact on health and well-being, making it more difficult for children and young people to stay healthy, affecting their life chances.

The two-year pilot project began in September 2024 and will run until July this year. Two schools are taking part, one primary - Elmhurst School in Aylesbury - and one secondary - Cressex Community School in High Wycombe. There are over thirty partners involved and, to date, over sixty actions have been completed, are in progress or are planned. Oxford Brookes University are overseeing the evaluation of the project. 

Isobel Darby, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “This project has brought together in two locations, schools, groups, organisations and individuals who want to make a difference in their local neighbourhood. Together we are making the area around these schools a healthier environment, improving the life chances of pupils and the wider community while strengthening relationships between partners.”

Councillor Isobel Darby attended a special assembly at Elmhurst School on 18 March which celebrated:

• the completion of road safety improvements funded by Aylesbury Community Board - speed humps, safer crossing facilities, new road signage and a wider pavement;
• the installation of signs designed by pupils, marking all school entrances and exits as smoke-free and vape-free zones;
• new monitoring equipment to support pupils in encouraging behaviour change to improve air quality, reduce idling vehicles dropping off/collecting outside the school.

At Booker Recreation Ground in High Wycombe on 19 March, a new outdoor gym was officially opened by Councillor Carol Heap, Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.  At the outset of the project, students and local residents were invited to share what would help them become more active. Many expressed a desire for something free, enjoyable, and easily accessible. The new outdoor gym has been created in direct response to that feedback: it is free to use, open year‑round, and designed for everyone in the community to enjoy.