Barratt graduates get on their bikes for school

Newcastle graduate recruits Becky White and Kate Lister swapped hard hats for cycle helmets at the weekend to raise much-needed funds for a school sports awareness day.

The girls got on their bikes to tackle the 140-mile ‘Coast to Coast’ ride from Workington to Tynemouth and completed the challenge in three days to raise money for the event at St. Mary's and St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School at Blaydon.

“As part of the Barratt graduate training programme we are encouraged to get involved in a voluntary event," said Kate. "We were aware of the Government initiative to improve sporting activities in North East schools, so we thought we'd do something to support it. We spoke with the school and they agreed to hold a sports awareness day for the pupils, provided we could fund it.”

In the North East, children’s participation levels in physical activity are extremely low. Under its Sport England initiative the Government target for 2020 is 70%, so the councils, schools, local authorities and sports clubs in the region have a real challenge ahead to hit target and raise the current participation rate of just 28%.

Becky and Kate, completed the ride with other Barratt Homes staff Suzie Chandler and John Flynn. The four are hoping to raise enough to host the awareness day, which will include a range of activities for pupils including a climbing wall, trampolines and obstacle course.