TfGM secures £1m funding from London Marathon Trust to promote cycling

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has been awarded a grant of £1 million from The London Marathon Charitable Trust to support cycling and walking in the city-region.

TfGM will put the money towards supporting around 10,000 people in up to 60 communities across Greater Manchester to get active and travel sustainably, with a particular emphasis on women, children and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, who are underrepresented on Britain’s bikes.

Research in the UK shows that 69% of frequent cyclists are men – in other countries, such as Denmark, there is a more even split of male and female cyclists. Other recent studies found  74% of people from ethnic minority groups living in 12 cities and towns across the UK do not currently cycle, although over half would like to start.

TfGM will use the grant from the London Marathon Charitable Trust for a three year project to:

• Get 10,000 inactive people more active through walking and cycling, via the development of an Active Travel Community Toolkit. The Toolkit which will include a range of resources will allow communities to choose a combination of support that will help them travel more actively;
• Train up to 60 Community Travel Champions to provide knowledge and a focus for active travel in their communities;
• Engage and empower around 60 local communities to identify and make positive changes to active travel facilities in their local areas.

Greater Manchester’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

This money will enable us to reach out to thousands more people across Greater Manchester, enabling them to fit walking and cycling into their daily lives and to enjoy the many benefits that go alongside it.

“Alongside temporary infrastructure in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are building the UK’s largest cycling and walking network. The Bee Network will deliver more than 1,800 miles of routes, linking every area of Greater Manchester. Inspiring people to walk or cycle for everyday journeys is a huge part of the puzzle and we are incredibly grateful to The London Marathon Charitable Trust for supporting us to make this a reality.”    

The London Marathon Charitable Trust was set up with the mission to support physical activity across the UK. In February 2020, the charity made £7.8 million available in grants for projects that would promote active travel. Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said:

In 2020, more than ever, we have learnt how important it is to be physically fit and active. By awarding this grant to Transport for Greater Manchester we hope that thousands of people who, for whatever reason, have not been able to exercise regularly will now be able to build physical activity into their daily routine.

“The London Marathon Charitable Trust created the Strategic Partnerships Programme in 2018 to support big regional projects that will inspire activity and challenge the inequality of access to sport and physical activity for children, young people, women and girls, disadvantaged communities and those with disabilities. This project in Greater Manchester does all of that.”