In February this year, Waltham Forest announced £25,000 of funding for community groups who could run projects to help get more people walking or cycling. Nine groups have now been selected to receive grants for their projects.
The grants come from the Community Walking and Cycling Fund, an annual fund that aims to reach a diverse range of groups from across Waltham Forest. The recipients are all community organisations who will run projects helping people in the borough to be more active, meet new people, discover more about active and sustainable modes of transport, and lead healthier lifestyles.
The fund has been running since 2019, and in that time has given grants to over 60 community projects, helping over 4,000 residents to walk or cycle more in their local area.
This year’s groups are:
Ace Community Sports: Providing a walking group for children and adults with disabilities
Age UK Waltham Forest: running beginner cycle training sessions for people aged over 60
Black Women on Wheels (BWOW): Freedom to ride, offering monthly group bike rides for women from Black communities
Cycle Sisters: encouraging Muslim women to cycle for active travel through led rides from Leyton Jubilee Park and Lloyd Park
East London Out Project (ELOP): Refit, a walk and talk group for the LGBTQ+ community.
Geek Café: Over-60s walk and talks in Leytonstone
Sapphire: Walk, talk ‘n’ sketch project, a walking group connecting together art and active travel
Walk the Loop: Stepping Out, a walking group for families, based in Pimp Hall Nature Reserve and the wider Chingford area
Cllr Clyde Loakes says: “I’m delighted to announce this latest round of Community Walking and Cycling Fund recipients. Together, the projects will cover the whole of Waltham Forest and there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to gain confidence on a cycle, meet other people from your community on a guided walk, or even getting artistic.
We hope that they’ll enable even more Waltham Forest residents to start exploring the borough on foot or cycle this summer, as we want this to be an option for everyone, regardless of age, ability or experience.”