Getting moving in Waltham Forest - 2024's Community Walking and Cycling Fund recipients
As part of the Enjoy Waltham Forest programme, in 2019 Waltham Forest Council launched a fund for local community projects that aim to encourage residents to be more active, explore the borough and make social connections.
In 2024, the sixth round of funding was announced, and eight groups have successfully applied for funding for their projects, which will be taking place across Waltham Forest this summer. Find out more about the projects and how you can be involved below!
Age UK: cycle training for over 60s
Age UK will hold cycle training sessions for older adults, with three courses of one-hour sessions over six weeks. The sessions will be delivered by British Cycling coaches. The cycle training sessions will take place from May to September and they will be delivered at Hawkswood Therapeutic School in Chingford and Lloyd Park in Walthamstow.
To register your interest, email events@ageukwalthamforest.org.uk or call 020 8558 5512.
Joyriders Britain CIC: The Big Family Cycling Summer
JoyRiders are holding family group cycle rides to encourage families to cycle in Waltham Forest. The rides will begin in Leyton Jubilee Park, cycling various routes by going to different local greenspaces or parks. There will be 10 led rides over the summer holidays and half term holidays until October. Find out more and see all of JoyRiders' upcoming rides here.
Salaam Peace: Active Community Rides
Salaam Peace promotes active travel to the community for ages 13 and above.
They will be offering young adults group cycling session for ages on Sunday mornings at St James Park. The cycling sessions will start within the borough to neighbouring boroughs, and for the longer distance rides will go to central London. There will also be walking events for older adults every Friday starting at St James Street Station to locations within and the surrounding areas of Waltham Forest. Get in touch with contact@salaampeace.org to sign up or enquire about further details.
Everyone on Boards: Enjoy Chingford on Boards & Wheels
Everyone on Boards is a CIC that will be running skateboarding and BMX sessions for young residents (5-17) to encourage physical fitness, mental well-being and focus on outdoor activities. The sessions will take place in Chingford parks such as Chase Lane Park, Memorial Park and Rolls Park and some sessions will take place in Leytonstone.
Follow Everyone on Boards on Instagram for up to date information.
Cycle Sisters: encouraging Muslim women to cycle for active travel
Cycle Sisters aims to inspire and enable Muslim women to cycle. The community group will be running women only led rides during term time on Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting from Jubilee Park in Leyton and Lloyd Park in Walthamstow with different end destinations. The group caters to both beginner and intermediate ride level options. The rides will be typically 6 to 12 miles in length. Find out more and get in touch with Cycle Sisters here.
Wild Bunch Cyclists: group cycle rides in Highams Park
Wild Bunch Cyclists will be running gently-paced led cycle rides for Waltham Forest residents as part of their cardiac rehabilitation after a heart event. The group will work on a referral basis from the cardiac rehab units based in Whipps Cross, St Bartholemew's and Royal London hospitals and will be based in Highams Park.
Geek Café CIC: over-60s Walk and Talk
Geek Café is a computer shop in Leytonstone that will be establishing an over-60s walk and talk group. They will combine their existing afternoon tea sessions with walking, to encourage attendees to embrace local green spaces and promote active travel and mental wellbeing. The walks will start from their computer café in Leytonstone with routes to Wanstead Flats and Epping Forest. Find out more via their Facebook page.
Lbs 4 Peace: Lbs 4 Peace X Mummy's Day Out
Lbs 4 Peace is a community group that encourages health and fitness for women from BAME ethnic backgrounds. This project mainly focusses on a walking group that will take place in the south of borough starting at Coronation Gardens in Leyton into the surrounding areas and ending the walk at Leyton Jubilee Park Café, while encouraging conversations about health and wellbeing. These sessions will be for women of all ages, as well as specialist sessions with Mummy's Day Out for mothers and children.
They will share tips and advice on health and wellbeing and also maps of the walking routes to encourage those that couldn't attend the sessions to do the walks in their own time. Find out more on Instagram.