What is the fund?

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and the Combined Authority have allocated £4 million to Active Travel with the aim of making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle across York and North Yorkshire. Active Travel has enormous benefits for physical and mental health, while also supporting our environment and the local economy.

As part of this overall investment, a £1 million Open Fund has been created, where the Mayor seeks to work with a range of organisations including public sector organisations, businesses and community groups to increase active travel participation in the York and North Yorkshire region.

North Yorkshire Sport will manage the fund to provide the Combined Authority with the appropriate specialist support available to potential applicants and to ensure all applicants (successful or unsuccessful) have on-going additional support for project development and access to alternative potential funding sources/opportunities.

Why have we created this fund?

The Mayor and Combined Authority want to provide opportunities for people across our city, towns, rural and coastal areas to make affordable, sustainable choices, and enjoy safer journeys to school and work.

To do this, they are investing in our communities to support a positive and long-lasting change in the region.

• Active travel reduces the burden on healthcare systems by lowering the rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. £700m of health economic benefits are associated with active commuting alone (WHO, Scotland).
• Research has found that people who exercise for around 30 minutes a day take around 25 per cent less short-term sick leave.
• Average cycling trip distance is longer than walking, so good cycling networks could increase the area with access to public transport modes twenty-fold
• In other areas of the country, such as London (TFL) – 85 per cent of business districts see cycling as important to business performance, and 95 per cent say the same for walking.
• Every £1 spent on active travel infrastructure returns an average of £5.6, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Grant Range

Applications to this fund are for capital and revenue projects and can range between £5,000 and £100,000.

What projects will the fund support?

The fund is designed to support projects that encourage more walking, wheeling, or cycling. This could be through initiatives such as:

• Projects that commence new or extended use of cycle parking, cycle hubs and cycle hangers that meet best practice standards for modern designs
• Projects that support demonstratable engagement campaigns and offer sustainable longer-term take-up and engagement
• Improved access to public transport through active travel connections
• Safer and more inclusive environments for underrepresented groups
• Behaviour change initiatives such as cycle training, social prescribing and community bike schemes, walking groups, marketing campaigns and travel plans
• Behaviour change initiatives linked to new or existing physical infrastructure
• Offering cycle training
• Improving walking routes

How to apply?

Download the guidance pack below for full application details.

Active Travel Fund – Application Guidance

Applications are made via a smartsheet form.  You will need to submit your application in one go (you can not save progress and return to it), so we have produced a word document of the form to enable you to draft your answers and copy in to the online form.

THE APPLICATION WINDOW FOR THIS FUND IS NOW CLOSED (as of Friday 10th April 11:59pm).

The word document below has the questions applicants are asked to complete for the Active Travel Fund, please use this document to draft your application ready for submission using the Smartsheet application form below:

Active Travel Fund Application Questions in word

Download the budget spreadsheet below to complete the financial details for your project:

Active Travel Fund Budget Form

Fund Opening and Closing Dates

If you have any questions then please email grants@northyorkshiresport.co.uk

Information Webinar & Slidedeck

Active Travel Fund Webinar Slides 10th March 26

Useful Documents 

• GOV.UK – UK subsidy control regime: statutory guidance – GOV.UK
• HM Treasury – Guide to Developing the Project Business Case
• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Economic Framework
• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Mayor’s Vision
• Schools Active Travel Toolkit – Active Travel Fund -Toolkit pdf