We have been awarded £1.24 million by Active Travel England to deliver an exciting programme to enable more people to take up walking and cycling for their health and well-being.
The funding is being used to deliver a programme of ‘socially prescribed’ walking and cycling, where health providers, link workers and service providers work together to help people meet their personal activity needs and goals.
As part of the project link workers within GP practices and health and wellbeing hubs will be able to direct people to a range of exciting walking and cycling activities, with the aim being to get more people walking and cycling – and enjoying the health and wellbeing benefits they bring.
Plymouth is one of only 11 locations across the country selected to take part in the Active Travel England social prescribing pilot.
The programme will run until autumn 2025 and will help more people to access support such as adult cycle training, led rides, led walks and complementary programmes like bike maintenance courses and workshops.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Through the project we will be providing an exciting high quality package of walking and cycling initiatives delivered through community engagement which will allow active travel to be part of people’s everyday lives directly improving the health and well-being of residents in Plymouth.”
The project is being delivered by the Council’s Plymotion and Public Health teams and from next week, our Plymotion travel advisors will once more be out and about providing information and incentives to help encourage more trips to be on foot, by bike and by bus.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care added: “Plymouth has a strong background in social prescribing and community-based active travel projects and this project is a great way to bring the two together to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents through active travel.
“While the project is focussed on social prescribing, everyone can sign up to the activities being delivered. It is designed to have something for everyone, whether you’re an experienced cyclist who wants help maintaining your bike or someone who doesn’t usually walk or cycle but want to give it a go and we’d encourage everyone to take part.”