Everton stars help launch healthy schools bus

Everton Football Club joined forces with bus company Arriva andLiverpool City Council to launch the Healthy Schools Bus today. Theclub’s star strike force of Andrew Johnson and James Beattie,along with Everton and England ladies goalkeeper, Rachel Brown,were also on hand to lend their support to the project, believed tobe the first of its kind in the UK.

The groundbreaking initiative aims to raise awareness amongLiverpool schoolchildren of the benefits of healthy eating and anactive lifestyle.

The bus, donated by Arriva, has been fully refurbished toinclude state of the art computer technology and will be visitingevery primary school in Liverpool during the course of the nextschool year, as part of a programme linked to the nationalcurriculum.

The Healthy Schools Bus would not have been possiblewithout the committed support of Arriva and the Liverpool CityCouncil,

explained Graham Lewis, chief executive officer of Everton inthe community.

We believe that the project will deliver a governmentagenda that will impact upon 8,000 primary school children acrossLiverpool in its first year. While football remains fundamental toour community programme, the Healthy Schools Bus allows us toengage with a wider audience regardless of ability.

Nick Gordon, marketing manager for Arriva North West and Wales,added:

We are delighted to be involved in such a high profileinitiative. Arriva is committed to supporting the local communitywherever possible and, with such clear benefits for the youngpeople of Liverpool, the Healthy Schools Bus is a worthy example ofthat.

Arriva has also agreed to maintain and service the HealthySchools Bus, as well as training new drivers.