A Paralympic gold medallist has praised students for their "innovative ideas" at a travel event.

Southampton City Council welcomed students from six secondary schools to the first Modeshift Active Travel Ambassador event on Friday, March 14.

The event was opened by Southampton-born Team GB Paralympic gold medallist, Aaron Phipps MBE, who praised the students for being role models.

Aaron won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in wheelchair rugby and spoke to students about his awe-inspiring journey, overcoming adversity, and showing incredible resilience.

He said: "It was a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic children from Southampton schools and hearing their really innovative ideas for active travel campaigns.

"I fully applaud and respect their efforts to get their school community out of cars and walking and wheeling to their school.

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"It was great to hear that my speech at the event about what I have achieved in my life really inspired them to double their efforts and make their active travel campaigns a success.

"I wish them all the very best of luck."

The Active Travel Ambassador (ATA) programme gives young people aged 11 upwards the confidence and skills to tackle the transport issues affecting their school.

Schools have been supported by Modeshift’s ATA coordinator and Southampton City Council’s and Hampshire County Council’s school travel team officers to help them research and develop behaviour change campaigns, focusing on active travel and road safety.

They presented these to a panel of experts to secure funding to deliver their campaigns.

The panel decided that every school should receive £200 from Modeshift to deliver their campaigns and to build on the excellent work they had already completed.

The standout campaign, and an additional £50 of funding, was awarded to St George Catholic College for their ideas of creating active travel ‘bingo’ cards to motivate students to be more active throughout the day.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "I was delighted to be able to take part in this fantastic event and it is so encouraging to see our city’s students talk so confidently and passionately about active travel, road safety and air quality."