The funding allocations for the 11 local authorities taking part in a £13.9m walking and cycling prescription trial have been announced.
The active travel social prescribing scheme, which was launched in August 2022, is aimed at helping councils launch a range of projects that will evaluate the impact of active travel on an individual’s physical and mental health.
Published today by Active Travel England (ATE), the list of recipients include Bradford City Council, which has received £1.34m to deliver projects that will see patients offered free access to guided walking and cycling activities, cycle training and bike loans.
In Plymouth, the council is using its £1.2m share of the funding to help tackle patients’ individual barriers to active travel by working with them to develop personal walking and cycling plans.
Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: ‘Many studies have shown active travel has massive health benefits. Enabling everyone in England to travel under their own steam will help reduce conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, whilst at the same time, improving mental wellbeing.
‘We aim to use these trials to build on the existing evidence to show how bringing transport, active travel and health together can help build a healthier nation in an easy and sustainable way.’
The full list of allocations is below:
• Bath & North East Somerset Council - £1,612,773
• City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council - £1,340,145
• Cornwall Council - £844,641
• Cumbria County Council - £1,496,432
• Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council - £665,000
• Gateshead Council - £1,431,240
• Leeds City Council - £1,373,444
• Nottingham City Council - £1,588,785
• Plymouth City Council - £1,241,722
• Staffordshire County Council - £834,458
• Suffolk County Council - £1,490,506
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