Funding allocations for each of the 11 local authorities taking
part in a £13.9 million trial that enables health workers to
prescribe walking and cycling to patients have been published for
the first time today by Active Travel England (ATE).
The active travel social
prescribing scheme, which was launched in August 2022, is
helping councils launch a range of projects that will evaluate
the impact of active travel on an individual’s physical and
mental health, such as through reduced demand for healthcare
appointments and reliance on medication due to more physical
activity.
Recipients include Bradford City Council, which has received
£1.34 million 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 £1.2 million 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.
Decarbonisation Minister said:
This funding will help thousands more people across the country
to realise the mental and physical health benefits that walking
and cycling brings.
Prescribing walking and cycling will not only improve the health
and wellbeing of people across the country but will also reduce
pressure on the NHS
and help people to choose more sustainable transport choices.
The full list of allocations for the £13.9 million social
prescribing fund 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
The government committed to fund active travel social prescribing
pilots as part of the gear change plan in
2020. The pilots are taking a pioneering approach that will see
active travel and health officials work together to develop a
whole systems approach to health improvement and tackling health
disparities.
ATE is also today (7
July 2023) publishing the breakdown of funding for its £32.9
million capability fund, initially announced in
January. This investment will help 78 councils in England
design, develop and consult on high-quality active travel schemes
that work for residents. The funding will also be used to deliver
training and engagement activities that give people the choice to
walk, wheel and cycle.
