LMF awards £750,000 to continue inspiring activity in Essex
London Marathon Foundation (LMF) has announced additional funding of £750,000 to continue supporting communities across Essex to lead active and healthy lives.
This funding from LMF brings the total awarded in Essex to £1.75 million since 2022.
Core funding
Funding is a direct benefit of Ford RideLondon being hosted by Essex County Council.
Essex became 1 of LMF’s core funding areas in 2022, thanks to the partnership between RideLondon (organised by London Marathon Events, the Foundation’s events company) and Essex County Council.
News of the additional funding comes less than 2 weeks after this year’s Ford RideLondon-Essex, which saw the county welcome more than 22,500 riders take part in 1 of 3 inspirational rides and 2 stages of the Ford RideLondon Classique, the UCI Women’s World Tour professional race, between Friday 26 and Sunday 28 May.
The Foundation’s funding in Essex will continue to be managed by Active Essex, building on an existing partnership which has supported more than 15,000 Essex residents to participate in physical activity since the funding partnership started in May 2022.
First year of funding
In the first year of the funding partnership:
- More than 220 grants have been awarded through the Find Your Active small grants programme, supporting residents of all ages and abilities to get active across Essex by taking part in a wide range of activities.
- More than 700 free bikes have been distributed to residents in Clacton and Jaywick through the Essex Pedal Power programme, with more bikes to be distributed across Colchester, Harwich and Dovercourt and Basildon this summer.
- More than 70 schools have been supported to develop Active Travel Plans, so more pupils can walk, cycle or scoot to school.
Find Your Active grants
Active Essex will use the new £750,000 to continue the Find Your Active small grants programme for another year. It supports projects that will help the Foundation’s priority audiences of children, young people and marginalised communities to get active, while also scaling up some of the projects previously funded through the programme over the past year. The new funding will also support the development of a Junior Essex Pedal Power programme, to provide free bikes to young people most in need.
Supporting active and healthy lives
Catherine Anderson, London Marathon Foundation’s Executive Director, said:
Thanks to RideLondon-Essex, our funding has enabled thousands of people across Essex to cycle, walk, scoot, run and generally be more active in a way that’s right for them all year round. We’re looking forward to working with Active Essex for another year, building on the impact we’ve already had and supporting many more residents across the county to lead active and healthy lives, truly delivering on our mission of Inspiring Activity.
Engage in physical activity
Councillor Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, added:
I’m so pleased to see the funding from the London Marathon Foundation return to Essex following Ford RideLondon-Essex 2023. Building on last year’s funding, it will continue to provide vital support to cycling initiatives across the county, as well as recognise the many ways residents wish to get moving. Therefore, the funds will also help groups who are encouraging people from all walks of life to engage in physical activity, however it suits them.
Inspire activity
Jason Fergus, Director of Active Essex, said:
The tremendous benefits of bringing RideLondon to Essex are now clear to see. Following the return of the event for the second year, it’s great we can continue this funding partnership with the London Marathon Foundation to inspire activity among communities along the RideLondon route, and across the county.
Keep up to date
Keep in touch with our latest news, service updates and reports.