£500k funding for new active travel projects in London

The Walking and Cycling Grants programme, funded by Transport for London in partnership with The London Marathon Foundation, has awarded £580,000 to 55 new projects run by community groups.

The grants are available to community groups and organisations, to deliver projects that remove the barriers to walking and cycling and enable all communities to enjoy the benefits of active travel.

The projects benefitting from this round of funded are spread across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London.

The grants run for two year with an option of a third of the projects is deemed a success (and funds are available). To that end, more than £328,000 of the funding has been awarded to 134 existing projects, to continue their work.

Since the scheme began in 2015, it has supported 417 projects across through £3.6m in grants, with over 78,000 participants benefitting from it.

A major goal of the scheme is to make walking and cycling more accessible to London’s diverse communities and projects applying for funding should be beneficial to people from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds: those from minority ethnic backgrounds, those living with disabilities, people on low income, homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers and people from the LGBTQ+ community.

Newly funded projects include:

• London Hand Cycling Club run by Regain the Trust for Sports Tetraplegics.
• Positive Black Hikers by River House Trust: bi-weekly walks for Black African and Caribbean people living with HIV.
• Babes on Bikes (BOB) by Future Challenges: Empowers ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, and women to cycle.
• Positive Cycles by Single Homeless Project: Mechanics sessions and monthly cycling trips for young people experiencing homelessness.
• Silver Cycling by Wheely Tots: Professional cycling sessions for adults over 60 to improve health and reduce social isolation.
• Motion Makers by Creative and Connected Communities: Walking and cycling to support ethnic minority groups, disadvantaged individuals, and young people to improve health and well-being.
• BAME Women’s Bicycling Initiative by Newham African Initiative Development: Supports ethnic minority groups, women, refugees, and asylum seekers to cycle.
• Re/Walk by InspiralLondon CIC: Themed walks to support cultural exchange and environmental awareness among ethnic minority groups and those with non-physical health issues.
• The Furzedown Strollers by The Furzedown Project: Walking group to support socially isolated older adults and LGBTQ+ people.
• Silver Cycling by Wheely Tots: Supports ethnic minority groups, disadvantaged people, and adults over 60 to improve health and reduce social isolation. 
• Walk the Line by New Pathways: East London walking group to improve physical activity, boost mental well-being, and foster social relationships within the community. 

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said: ’The Mayor and TfL are committed to making walking and cycling accessible to all. That’s why I’m delighted the Walking and Cycling Grants Programme continues to support these important projects that remove barriers to active travel for traditionally underrepresented groups. We know what an impact these projects are having in their communities, enabling Londoners from all backgrounds to walk and cycle, and supporting the Mayor’s aim to build a fairer, greener, more accessible London for everyone.’

Miranda Leedham, Head of Customer Marketing & Behaviour Change at TfL, said: ’We are very excited to award grants to 55 new projects this year and continue to make walking and cycling accessible for all Londoners. Walking and Cycling Grants London has played a vital role in increasing representation of London’s diverse communities and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of these inspiring projects, which are removing the barriers for people from diverse backgrounds to travel more actively and sustainably around the capital.’