Waltham Forest has announced a further £25,000 of funding for community groups who can help get more people walking or cycling in 2025.
Now in its seventh year, the annual Community Walking and Cycling Fund will provide grants to community organisations who have ideas for projects helping people in the borough to get active, meet new people, discover more about active and sustainable modes of transport, and lead healthier lifestyles.
Established in 2019, the Fund has now given grants to 57 community projects and helped over 4,000 residents to walk or cycle more in their local area.
Last year, eight projects received grants, including:
- Cycle Sisters, who help to make cycling more accessible for Muslim women and teen girls, and ran a 'switch your journey’ project to encourage people to use cycling as part of their everyday transport. One participant said: “Thanks to dedicated Ride Leaders there are regular weekly group sessions which I find really enjoyable and they are helping me build my road confidence. Rides are at different ability ranging from beginners to challenging. I started as a beginner and was able to go on challenging rides In just few weeks that was only possible because the Ride Leaders are very considerate and gave excellent support and encouragement. I highly recommend anyone who wants to start cycling to join the group.”
- Age UK Waltham Forest, who ran beginner cycling lessons for people aged over 60. The sessions were fully booked out. Participants said: “The teachers were great at building confidence. It was their encouragement which made me want to attend each week.” And “Learning with older women encouraged me to do the course, and I gained confidence each week.”
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality, says:
“Over the last six years I’ve been blown away by the projects run by our community groups, and the real impact they have on peoples’ lives in Waltham Forest. There are people out there walking and cycling more, making new friends, and building stronger communities, thanks to the work of the community groups who have applied to the Community Walking and Cycling Fund. These projects help to break down barriers and ensure that everyone feels empowered to walk or cycle, for leisure and as a mode of transport.
When we started this fund, we couldn’t have imagined some of the directions it would take – whether that was helping people who have been through cardiac rehab to join together on weekly cycle rides, or multiple different groups across the borough leading guided walks each week. I’m looking forward to seeing the projects put forward for 2025.”
To find out more about the fund and to apply, follow the link below.