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Walking and Cycling with Cllr Clyde Loakes

Waltham Forest’s Community Cycling and Walking Fund Recipients Announced

Published: 24 April 2023
Filed under: Climate change

Waltham Forest Council has announced eight successful bidders for the 5th Annual Community Walking and Cycling Fund.

Waltham Forest Council has announced eight successful bidders for its Community Walking and Cycling Fund. The £20,000 fund, now in its fifth year, granted each of the community groups up to £3,000 to develop and support their work and ensure as many residents as possible can enjoy the benefits of walking, cycling and even skateboarding! 

Successful projects this year include:

  • Age UK Waltham Forest, to run cycle training for those aged 60 plus
  • Everyone on Boards, which runs skateboarding lessons for children and young people
  • Cycle Sisters, for led cycle rides around the borough
  • Life After Cancer, for wellbeing walks to support adults recovering from cancer
  • JoyRiders Britain CIC, offering The Big Family Cycling Summer initiative
  • JP Fix and Ride, which will offer Bike ‘DIY’ Cycle Maintenance Courses in Leytonstone and Chingford
  • CarryMe Bikes CIC, a family cycling advice and equipment lending library
  • Salaam Peace, weekly led bike rides from St James Park
  • Can Hall Can - ‘The Walking Project’.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, said: “We are really pleased to announce the latest Community Walking and Cycling Fund recipients. We hope these projects will help us get more people walking, cycling, and wheeling more often. This will hopefully replace many more short-based car journeys with active modes of transportation, whilst also helping tackle some of the serious health and well- being challenges many of our residents face due to inactivity, loneliness, and poor air quality. 

“Working with these local groups helps the Council reach more residents than we would normally be able to. These small grants will help fund these groups to deliver their plans this summer and support more of our residents to discover the enjoyment and benefits of a more active lifestyle.

“Supporting people to walk, cycle, and wheel far more is vital as we look to reduce the amount of cars on local roads, improve our air quality and work towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.”

The Community Walking and Cycling Fund, part of the Enjoy Waltham Forest programme, has already supported residents to walk and cycle across the borough. The latest projects will continue the Council’s work of building stronger communities, promoting active and sustainable transport options and supporting healthier lifestyles, alongside helping to tackle social isolation and loneliness.  

Local people are also encouraged to get involved with the hugely popular Tour de Waltham Forest, which is returning on Sunday 11 June. More than 1,000 riders took part in 2022 and there are four different routes starting in Leyton Jubilee Park, ranging from 7km to 25km, covering all abilities.

You can sign up for the Tour De Waltham Forest on the Eventbrite page.