TfL and the London Marathon Foundation have awarded more than £580,000 of funding to projects run by community groups to support more people from underrepresented backgrounds to walk and cycle.
The investment, made through the Walking and Cycling Grants (WCGL) programme, includes funding for 55 new projects; and 134 existing projects.
WCGL aims to make walking and cycling more representative of London’s diverse communities, with successful projects targeting a wide range of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
These include those from minority ethnic backgrounds, those living with disabilities, people on low income, homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers and people from the LGBTQ+ community.
The projects aim to improve participants’ confidence in walking and cycling in London, while enabling people to connect with their local communities, learn new skills, and improve their physical and mental health.
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.
- The Furzedown Strollers by The Furzedown Project: Walking group to support socially isolated older adults and LGBTQ+ people.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: ”The mayor and TfL are committed to making walking and cycling accessible to all. That’s why I’m delighted the WCGL 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.”
The WCGL scheme is jointly funded in partnership with The London Marathon Foundation and is part of a five-year programme to inspire Londoners to cycle and walk.
Since it began, the programme has supported 339 projects across the London boroughs. This has encouraged more than 77,000 participants across London to walk and cycle.
Miranda Leedham, head of customer marketing and 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.
“WCGL 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.”
Comment on this story