Royal Honour for Sustainable Transport Charity

Source: Sustrans | Posted: 23rd April 2009

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans is to receive a Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The Award, which is officially announced today (21 April) comes from the Queen, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions.

The Queen's Award for Sustainable Development is the highest honour that can be given to a UK company. It recognises businesses and organisations which have made outstanding advances or have a high level of continuous achievement, in the environmental and social impacts included in sustainable development.

Sustrans is delighted to be receiving the Award. As the charity behind the National Cycle Network and many other practical projects designed to get people travelling in ways that are good for their health and the environment it has over thirty years of working in Bristol and across the whole of the UK.

Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans CEO says: "We are delighted to be recognised by this award. But it does not belong solely to us. From the early days of the National Cycle Network through to our £50 million lottery win we could not have achieved any of this without the support of the many hundreds of partners we work with every day. From central and local governments through to the private sector and individuals including our 2,500 volunteers we are grateful for their commitment and share this award with them." 

In 2007 the UK public voted Sustrans the winner in the Big Lottery Fund's largest ever competition. The £50 million prize money, for the charity's Connect2 project, is now being used to enable 79 communities across the UK to get around their local area on foot and by bike.

The charity is working with tens of thousands of children to help them cycle to and from school and has seen levels of cycling treble within a year. It is also innovating in encouraging people to re-think the way they travel, Sustrans' work to encourage and enable people to walk, cycle or go by public transport has consistently reduced car trips by up to 10 per cent and at the same time increased the number of journeys people make on foot, by bike and by public transport.

And communities in selected streets across the UK are already benefitting from a transport makeover as Sustrans works with residents to transform their neighbourhoods into places that are people-friendly rather than car-centric.

Today's announcement will be followed by a formal presentation later in the spring.