Groundwork London Milestone: Ten Years of Walking and Cycling Grants

“The work to encourage and support thousands of Londoners in walking and cycling activities, particularly those that are underrepresented or face barriers to participation, is really important for a wide range of community benefits such as health, inclusion, skills and economic mobility” – Martin Petry, Grants Manager Groundwork London

Walking and Cycling Groups are Thriving in London

Groundwork London plays a vital role in supporting communities across London, improving their lives and the places they live. Their Community Grants team have helped bring communities, grassroots, SME’s and charitable enterprises closer to their goals by administering grants funded by leading organisation’s across the Capital, to improve health, green spaces and quality of life in the city for all.

Over the last ten years, one such grant has achieved incredible milestones to help grow a unique and inspiring collective of passionate thought leaders and change-makers in the fields of active fitness, mental and physical health and inclusive community spirit.

On 29th July 2025, at Marathon House, grantees attended a networking event hosted by London Marathon Foundation, joined by TfL and Groundwork London, to celebrate their decade of achievements, their inspiring community spirit and shared goals for the future.

To date, Walking and Cycling Grants has helped more than 89,000 unique participants across 32 boroughs and the City of London through activities tailored to their needs. Activities such as rides for children with disabilities, led rides for members of the LGBTQ+ community, classes to learn cycling or bike repair, as well as walks for people suffering from ill health or isolation, have helped many Londoners benefit from active travel.   

This year is special for Groundwork London as it celebrates ten years administering the fund, working in partnership with TfL and London Marathon Foundation. Over 60,000 people have benefited from Walking and Cycling Grants. Since the grant began in 2015, and through partnering with London Marathon Foundation in 2019, WCGL has;

• Connected 92,851 people to the walking & cycling community
• Refurbished 6,180 bikes
• Delivered 29,572 organised rides and walks across the city
• Trained 11,668 in bike maintenance
• Taught 9,310 people to cycle
• Supported 1,194 participants through Groundwork-led training sessions
• Averaged 131 applications per year in the last 3 years

Apply Now for Walking and Cycling Grants 2025

Walking and Cycling Grants is open again for it’s tenth round, offering grants of up to £5000 to Community groups and organisation’s across London. Objectives of the fund are broad so to appeal to diverse groups and project ideas, and should aim to:

• Increase walking and cycling in London (including new, lapsed or occasional cyclists)
• Increase confidence in walking and cycling
• Increase walking and cycling frequency
• Make cycle ownership more accessible
• Introduce exercise via walking and cycling to people who are particularly inactive
• Reduce social isolation and get people involved and together in their local community

Community groups and organisations across London can apply for up to £5,000 over one year to deliver walking and cycling projects between January and September 2026. Last year, 57 new projects were awarded funding through the scheme bringing the total number of projects supported since 2016 to 395.

This includes key projects delivered by London Cycling Campaign, Cycle Sisters and Joyriders as well as grassroots organisations such as Two Mindful Bees in Lewisham, Harrow Cycle Hub and Ambition, Aspire, Achieve in Newham. You can read the full 2025 press release here.

“Babes on Bikes isn’t just about teaching girls and women to ride bikes, it’s about empowering them with the confidence and skills to navigate their loves, one pedal stroke at a time!

“It’s such a strange feeling being able stand there and look at something that the community came up to put together, it was at first an idea and today it became such an amazing cycling project. I’ve learnt so much from being part of this amazing project and really looking forward to make it a large part of our yearly activities, and we are committed to being a welcoming and supportive space for all who identify as women. This is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by all the team involved. The support from WCGL, local businesses and individuals has been truly incredible and without it we could not have reached this point. It’s been a fantastic journey working with all the team, funder and in particular girls and women.” – Antonio Dacruz, Programme Manager at Future Challenges UK.

“Two Mindful Bees is a social enterprise with an innovative focus on making positive changes to the lives of those in our community by creating an inclusive space. Thanks so much to WCGL, we’ve really been able to expand our mindfulness walks and connect with our community, local organisations, and other WCGL-funded groups. The benefits of regular walks, self-care, creating space to socialise, and fostering a sense of wonder in nature have had a huge impact on our beneficiaries.” – Thanh Uong, Director, Two Mindful Bees.

Would you like to explore a grant to support your Walking and/or Cycling project? Apply now at wcgl.london.

If you’re seeking a different grant unique to your project, discover more funding opportunities led and adminstered by our expert grants team on our Community Grants page