Schools are still in the running to join a successful green travel project for free – all they need to do is register their interest.

There are spaces available for schools to join Green Champions at no charge after the project was announced a winner in the Aviva Community Fund Poll.

Having secured sufficient votes to become a finalist, the project went through a judging process – where, according to Aviva, it “scored very highly against some very strong competition.”

Green Champions, run by the KM Charity Team, was among the winners named by Aviva earlier this year. The scheme will receive a grant enabling 25 schools to join the hundreds across Kent and Medway who are already helping pupils to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Rebecca Smith, deputy CEO of the KM Charity Team, said: “Applications are coming in but there are still spaces left. Don’t miss out on this opportunity - all you need to do is get in touch and register your interest.”

She added: “We are so excited to be in a position to offer Green Champions for free and we can’t wait to get the new schools on board.”

The Green Champions package contains resources to encourage pupils on school councils or eco committees to take the lead in promoting green travel. They are rewarded - with prizes including limited edition t-shirts – for planning and carrying out activities that create a buzz around sustainable travel to their peers and families.

The project has been extended to include other school-led eco initiatives involving pupil activity - in areas such as nature or energy conservation, recycling, or garden projects.

All Green Champions projects undertaken by the groups of pupils will automatically be submitted to the annual Green School Awards for additional recognition.

The KM Charity Team operates green travel schemes including Walking Bus, Green Footsteps and Active Wow (Walk on Wednesday). It works with 200 primary schools and succeeds in removing more than 300,000 school-run car journeys from Kent roads each year.

The charity’s work reduces traffic congestion and harmful carbon emissions as well as increasing the number of pupils – and their families – undertaking regular physical activity.

• Schools wanting to register their interest to take up one of the 25 funded slots for Green Champions should contact Debbie Possee at dpossee@thekmgroup.co.uk