Active Travel England

The grants support activities that increase overall walking, wheeling or cycling, with a focus on journeys to school and work. Funded costs include equipment, training, events, transport and salaries for staff delivering the project. Priority is given to projects located near new cycle tracks or that engage one or more priority audiences: children, families, women, disabled people and ethnic minority groups. All funded activity must take place within the Sandwell area. The grants are designed for local community-led initiatives rather than large-scale infrastructure.

Registered charities, social enterprises, community groups, schools and faith groups based in Sandwell can apply. The programme does not fund individuals. Priority audiences include children, families, women, disabled people and ethnic minority groups, and projects that involve these groups are especially welcome. Organisations should be rooted in the local community and able to deliver activity within Sandwell. There is no religious restriction for faith groups.

The grants cannot be used for capital works such as cycle parking or infrastructure improvements, nor for research. Also excluded are activities or costs already covered by other government funding, projects that promote religious or political beliefs, personal benefit to an individual, loss of sponsorship or loan repayments, replacement of general equipment for reasons unrelated to the grant, contingency costs, and VAT that organisations are seeking to recover.

These are one-off grants (not multi-year) that can cover revenue costs including salaries, equipment, training, events and transport. The programme is distinct from Active Travel England's other funding streams, which support local transport authorities. The funding is for project-specific costs rather than core operations, though staff salaries directly related to the project are eligible.