Published: 23rd MAY 2024

Grant applications open to support walking and cycling in the West Midlands

We are working with Transport for West Midlands to distribute Active Travel Community Grants to organisations helping to bolster walking and cycling in their communities. Find details of how to apply below.

A group of mothers standing beside bicycles take part in a cycling workshop led by instructor. They are in the grounds of a school.

A group of mothers take part in a cycling instruction session tailored to Muslim women. Copyright Micky Lee/Sustrans

We are delighted to announce funding from Transport for West Midlands for community organisations interested in carrying out initiatives aimed at bolstering cycling and walking.

Grants are now available to improve or enhance the spaces along local paths, run led walks and rides, deliver bike maintenance sessions or to fund ideas for activities that bring people together.

View the Active Travel Community Grants application form.

The Active Travel Community Grants is a regional programme funded by West Midlands Combined Authority for Sustrans to actively source grant applicants. The primary objectives are to:

  • Increase overall cycling levels
  • Increase levels of cycling to school
  • Increase levels of cycling to work.

The fund is to empower communities within the Cycling for Everyone Wards (see below) to deliver walking, wheeling, and cycling activities. The aims are to benefit people and increase access to active travel, and engaging one or more of the following priority audiences:

  • Children (16 years old and under)
  • Families
  • Women
  • Disabled people
  • Ethnic minority groups
Two men walk along a tree-lined path in the sun, with a National Cycle Network sign in the foreground.

Walking and cycling-focused projects in the Cycling for Everyone Wards can apply for grants up to £10,000. Photo Copyright: PhotoJB/Sustrans

The Active Travel Community Grants are now open for applications. The application form will close at 23:59 on 16th June 2024, and we anticipate that successful applicants will be informed w/c 24th June. Project delivery, monitoring and reporting will need to be completed by 15th September 2024.

The maximum grant application is £10,000.

Download the Active Travel Grants Applicant Guidance and FAQs.

A group of people receive cycle training alongside their bicycles. Their faces cannot be seen.

The Active Travel Community Grants, which can be used for cycle training projects like this pictured above, are now open for applications. Photo Copyright: Kois Miah/Sustrans

Organisations applying for a grant must be in one of the following wards:

Local Authority Birmingham
Wards Small Heath, Bordesley Green, Lozells, Stockland Green, Gravelly Hill, Birchfield.

Local Authority Coventry
Wards Foleshill, Longford, Canley (Westwood ward), Henley, Willenhall (Binley/ Willenhall). Lower Stoke.

Local Authority Solihull
Wards Kingshurst and Fordbridge, Bickenhill, Smith’s Wood, Chelmsley Wood, Shirley East (Green Hill), Lyndon.

Local Authority Dudley
Wards St Thomas’, Castle and Priory, Brockmoor and Pensnett, Brierley Hill, St James’s, Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews.

Local Authority Sandwell
Wards Soho and Victoria, Langley, West Bromwich Central, St Paul’s, Greets Green and Lyng, Oldbury.

Local Authority Walsall
Wards Birchills Leamore, Wilenhall South, Bentley and Darlaston North, Blakenhall. Darlaston South, St Matthew’s.

Local Authority Wolverhampton
Wards Bilston East, Ettingshall, Brushbury South and Low Hill, St Peter’s, Bilston South, Heath Town.

The above wards were determined with each Local Authority using a list of the top 20% most deprived wards across the region, propensity to cycle tool, existing infrastructure, demographics and physical inactivity levels.

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