ORGANISERS of the KM Walking Bus project have launched a county-wide campaign to attract extra business sponsors to support the growing network of 'buses' in Kent.

Civic leaders and sponsors attended a launch reception where they met the six children selected to be the face of the Walking Bus project for the coming 12 months.

After the reception the children attended a photoshoot to produce pictures which will be used on a series of posters and information display screens to promote the Walking Bus concept at primary schools across Kent.

Project chairman Simon Dolby thanked guests attending the reception at Canterbury's Tower House, the official offices of the city's Lord Mayor, and said that signing up more business sponsors was vital to the project because of the rapid increase in interest in Walking Buses.

He said that increasing numbers of busy parents were discovering that by joining a Walking Bus they could share the task of taking their children to school, help cut the numbers of vehicles involved in the school run, while also ensuring children learn vital road safety skills and get regular exercise.

The KM Walking Bus project works with council road safety officers to help launch new schemes and support the current crop of Walking Buses in the county.

As well as advice on the practicalities of running a scheme the project provides free high-visibility tabards and baseball caps to all new Walking Buses - to remove the obstacle of fund-raising for parents. It is the tabards and large volumes of newsletters for schools that the majority of supporting sponsors fund with each new 'bus' costing the project £500 to launch.

Mr Dolby said: "To have so many of the county's civic leaders attending the launch was excellent and shows that the penny really has dropped when it comes to recognising the value of Walking Buses to our children and the wider community.

"Business backing and donations from the public are vital to the success of this project. We are very aware that although organisations like to support good causes they are more enthusiastic if they receive something in return, and we have developed a series of sponsorship packages that deliver a progressively higher profile depending on the amount of funding provided by a company.

"We know we have got the formula right as many organisations that initially approach us thinking they will make a donation from their charitable pot end up supporting the project through their marketing budget."

The project has attracted high-profile support from every section of the community. Former EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson, who played the role of Barry Evans, has been joined by Kent Messenger Group chairman Edwin Boorman and the Lord Mayor of Canterbury Martin Vye in becoming Honorary Patrons of the project.

For more information or to receive a sponsorship pack contact Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752, call creative marketing company SEA on 01227 768808 or e-mail: kentwalkingbus@aol.com

* The six children who will be the face of the Walking Bus project for the coming year are Harry Taylor, five, of Herne Bay Infant School; Stevie Bunce, six, of Minster Walking Bus, Thanet; Charlie Johnson, five, of Minster Walking Bus, Thanet; Dylan Smith, five, of the Deanwood School scheme at Rainham; Sophie-Rose Brazil, seven, of the Mundella School bus in Folkestone; Natasha Rendell, nine, of Briary School scheme, Herne Bay.