Funding helps traditionally underrepresented groups enjoy active travel

More than half a million in new funding to has been awarded to community groups in London for projects that remove barriers to active travel for traditionally underrepresented groups.

Transport for London (TfL) and the London Marathon Foundation have awarded more than £575,000 of funding to 78 new projects and 69 continuing projects, as part of the Walking and Cycling Grants London (WCGL) programme.

TfL says each investment will make a real difference to communities across the capital, allowing organisations to deliver projects and programmes to enable more people to enjoy the benefits of active travel.

WCGL aims to encourage more people to walk and cycle, helping to break down the barriers that prevent people from getting active and helping to make London a more sustainable, inclusive, and healthy city.

All projects give people the chance to connect with their local communities, learn new skills, get active and improve their physical and mental health.

The successful projects target a wide range of traditionally underrepresented groups. These include disabled people, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, those who are disadvantaged (which includes issues such as low-income, lack of outside space nearby and home living space, those in receipt of benefits, free school meals and other social issues), homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers and those part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The projects aim to enable participants to feel confident while walking and cycling in London. Funding has been awarded to schemes covering all 32 boroughs and the City of London.

New projects awarded funding this year include:

• Wellbeing Walkabouts – Express Tuition Ltd, Enfield
  Walking project aiming to support ethnic minorities and disadvantaged women by delivering weekly guided walks to improve their physical, mental, and social wellbeing
• Silver Walking and Cycling fun and fitness – Silverfit, Richmond 
  Guided walking and Nordic walking sessions for older people within three local parks in Richmond. The group also holds sessions for indoor and outdoor cycling
• Hummingbird Walking Group – Hummingbird Senior Citizens Club, Lewisham
  Project aiming to support the disadvantaged, ethnic minorities and people over 60. The project will empower older adults from Caribbean communities to improve their mental wellbeing by making walking more accessible and creating opportunities for social interaction to reduce social isolation
• Sustainable Sanctuaries – Faiths Forum for London, Brent, Camden, City of Westminster, Harrow, Newham, Waltham Forest
  The Cycle to Worship project promotes environmental sustainability within places of worship while encouraging cycling participation in underrepresented groups across London
• Deaf Cycling – Empowering Deaf Society, Newham and Redbridge 
  Cycling aiming to support deaf people to take part in cycle training sessions, group cycles and excursions with a BSL interpreter

Since it began, TfL’s WCGL programme has supported 339 projects across the London boroughs. TfL says this has encouraged more than 77,000 participants across London to walk and cycle.

Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “Walking and cycling are great ways for people to keep active, stay healthy and connect with their local communities.

“I’m delighted that the grants programme is supporting these important projects, which are removing barriers to active travel for traditionally underrepresented groups.

“The mayor and I will continue to work with community groups to make the capital’s transport network more sustainable and accessible, building a fairer, greener and better London for everyone.”

Miranda Leedham, head of customer marketing and behaviour change at TfL, said: “We are thrilled to award grants to 78 new projects and continue to make walking and cycling accessible for everyone.

“Walking and Cycling Grants London has played a vital role in increasing representation and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of these inspiring projects, which are breaking down the barriers for people from diverse backgrounds to travel more actively around the capital.”

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