Essex Cycle Grant

The Essex Cycle Grant is provided by Active Essex and Essex County Council to support organisations throughout the county engage with more people to get them cycling. This can range from those needing support learning to ride or accessing a bike, to those who’re more confident wanting to explore more of Essex on two wheels. Any organisation from Essex can apply. The money can be used to start up new activities or increasing the numbers attending existing activities.

There is no limit on how much you can apply for, although we expect the average award to be £3,000 so the grant can reach as many organisations and people as possible. The grant is for organisations who are willing and able to take immediate action to reach people who can benefit from cycling, particularly those who have become less physically active since the Covid pandemic. All activities will need to be completed by April 2027 or earlier. Applications that are focused on the key funding priorities below are more likely to receive an award.

We will prioritise applications that are targeted projects to help diversifying the target audience who typically engage in cycling. As well as projects that normalise cycling as a regular, inclusive, everyday activity for all people from all backgrounds.

We will prioritise applications that engage:

• Older people
• People living with a disability or a long-term health condition
• Ethnically diverse communities
• People living with poor mental health
• Low Socio-Economic Groups
• Women
• Rural communities

We will fund any organisation that can offer appropriate cycling support and activities, especially for residents who may now be less active due to the pandemic.

We can fund anything from instructors, premises, equipment, marketing and promotion.

Funding requires recipient bodies to have a recognised constitution in place.

The funds cannot be used for:

1. Activities promoting religious or political beliefs
2. Individuals
3. Any private businesses or profit-making organisations unless they are a Social Enterprise or Community Interest Company,
4. Sole traders

Applications on behalf of workplace cycling initiatives and school-based projects will be considered. School based projects should be delivered out of curriculum time, however, our children and young person lead, may signpost you to more appropriate funding where necessary.

Every organisation receiving an award will need to use the Find Your Active branding, collect information about the participants using the Active Essex Impact Tool, send in a short report at the end of the funding in your own style. We welcome at any time inspirational case studies about people who are benefitting from the grant.