Get Down To Town
Introduction to 'Get Down to Town Kettering'
'Get Down To Town' was all about improving travel choices for people coming to our local town centre in Kettering. As a result this helped to reduce travel costs, provided healthier, greener travel opportunities and made it easier for those without a car to get to and from town.
A Community Approach to Green Travel for All
The project was not just about what WE were doing but about what others in the community were doing already or would like to do to promote sustainable travel options and maybe needed our help to do that. We are here to support and promote any green travel initiative which impacts Kettering town centre in some way - from Blue Badge walks, mobility scooter social rides, station adopter actions to draw people to our rail travel, community bus services, skateboard lessons, scooter discos, cycle training and much much more.
Previous Events
We held a whole host of events and activities both in the town centre and as part of our outreach work to enable and encourage more people to travel to the town centre in greener ways. Below is the list events and activities that took place. For our current events please see our Local Events page.
Scootfit - Fun scooter sessions
Kettering Market Place, Saturday 27 January, 11am-4pm
- Sessions started on the hour every hour from 11am-4pm (last session was at 3pm)
- All ages and abilities (under 16's must be accompanied by an adult)
- Scooters were provided along with safety equipment such as helmets
Kettering Active Travel Hub
- Held at The Royal Hotel, Market Place, Kettering. Continuing every last Saturday of the month from 11am-3pm.
- Free manned, indoor cycle parking, free cycle maps, free cycle security marking.
Kettering Community Cycle Club
- Held at 11am every last Sunday of the month. Usual meeting place is outside McDonalds, High Street, Kettering.
- #TourYourTown easy, short, friendly cycle rides for all ages and abilities (U16s with adult) around Kettering town sometimes with another local event as a special destination.
GRAIN Walks
- Takes place at 10am every third Saturday of the month. Meets alternate months outside Cornmarket Hall (or at East Carlton Park every other month).
- The Ghanaian Residents Association In Northamptonshire welcomes everyone to their friendly monthly community walks - a chance to learn about Ghanaian culture here in our county.
Scout and Cub Sessions
- The Brightwayz team attended several scout and cub group meetings until the end of January 2024 to support work towards cycle badges.
- Activities included learning to fix punctures, understanding gears, adjusting brakes and saddles and how to carry out cycle safety checks and lock bikes securely.
Beavers and Rainbows
- Younger members of the scout and guide movements enjoyed cycle related activities with us too.
- They learned about being bright and seen with fun craft activities alongside having a go at pedalling their own smoothies.
Primary Schools
- All primary schools in the Kettering area were contacted with the opportunity to get support to do their own travel survey.
- On completion of the survey the four schools that took part received a free 'Reflector Shop Starter Pack'.
- The survey results were used to create a travel report for each individual school that took part.
Bikelife
- With Bikelife we provided free cycle confidence training, access to a bike if needed, free repairs and 'learn to fix' sessions.
- Priority was been given to NHS and care sector staff but now the programme was open to anyone over 16 who lives or works in North Northamptonshire.
- Sessions were being held between November 2023 and March 2024. Find out more here.
Kettering Christmas Markets
Brightwayz held a stall at two of the Kettering Christmas markets - providing information on active travel activities and free maps too.
If vitsitors travelled to the Christmas market by bike, walking, scooting, mobility scooter, bus or train they could claim a free travel-related gift. Gifts included Get Down To Town shopper bags, cycle seat covers, reflectors and more.
First Ever Modeshift STARS Town Centre
A unique aspect of this project is that it was the first ever town centre in the UK to achieve the DfT-backed Modeshift STARS Green level (Sustainable Travel Accredited and Recognised). Thousands of schools, businesses, hospitals and developer sites have already acheived this prestigious recognition of efforts towards greener travel.... but never a town centre. We are working closely with Modeshift to use Kettering as a pilot and become the flagship example for other town centres to follow.