Our work with communities

Our work with communities

We’re proud to work with organisations already at the heart of our communities to provide tailored support, helping people overcome transport barriers and access employment, education, training and leisure opportunities by bike or on foot.

Funding and grants

Since 2018 we have awarded 35 organisations across West Yorkshire a total of more than £225,000 funding. Our community grant schemes invite not-for-profit organisations to bid for grants to deliver grassroots initiatives enabling people living and working in their community to cycle and walk more.

Each project focuses on providing local solutions to local barriers with initiatives ranging from pool bikes and bike loans to led cycles and walks, increasing people’s confidence on two wheels, route planning, building employment skills through activities such as bike maintenance, and connecting people with employers through job fairs and work clubs.

Below is an overview of the groups that have been funded through the Community Grants Programme in between 2020 and 2022:

Bradford 

Phase 1 

Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure

New adapted bikes and engagement sessions with Beechwood School, Keighley   

Bingley Walkers are Welcome

Guided and self-guided photography walks 

Phase 2 

Bradford Capital of Cycling and Bingley Belles

Ride leader training to increase capacity of group rides and a summer cycle festival day  

Bradford Moor Pass

Bike subscription service linked to local schools 

Burley Bridge Association

Creation of a recognised route linking Ripon and Bradford, a booklet guide, and launch event at Bradford Cathedral

CNet (Bradford & District Community Empowerment Network)

Community led walks, showcasing the proximity and features of local routes 

Community Action Bradford and District and Highfield Food Co-op

Walking groups for local BAME women 

Mary Magdalene CIC

Cycle and maintenance training for isolated people from marginalised communities, and a programme of walks showcasing the benefits to wellbeing 

Bradford Rising CIC

Led walks for parents (from school gates) and weekend family cycle training 

Play Bradford 

A project encouraging young people to travel to local amenities by bike 

Shape UK

A walking and exercise group, focused on addressing health issues which particularly affect the BAME community 

Social Outreach Services CIC

Guided rides for people with learning difficulties  

Tasif Khan Community Boxing Academy

Cycling activities for young people at risk of drug abuse and crime

University of Bradford Student Union

A walking group led by and for students with dependants 

Baildon Methodist Church with Wesley's Community Hub

Dr Bike sessions and balance biking for children aged 2-5 who have high levels of inactivity 

Nurture Academies Trust with Victoria Primary School

Cycle training offer to female parents to encourage a more active family lifestyle 

Wakefield 

Phase 1

Altofts Community and Sports Foundation

Creation of a community bike workshop 

Family Fit WY Wakefield

Led walks for older or inactive people 

Groundwork

Led walks and creation of 10 Know My Area walking packs 

Phase 2

Dream Time Creative

Translation of Louisa Fennell walk guide to make community and themed guided walks accessible to non-English speakers 

Frickley Athletic Community Foundation

Led walks and runs for isolated members of community 

Horbury Civic Society

Expansion of existing self-guided (QR code) walk and delivery of led walks around Horbury 

Reflections Yorkshire CIC

Bikes to enable a cycling arm of the Man Matters project, targeting vulnerable adult males 

Senior Citizens Support Group

Led walks for elderly member of the community who suffer from mobility issues, either existing or triggered by COVID-19 restrictions 

Star Bereavement Support Service

Group walk-and-talk sessions for young people suffering from bereavement (and their families/carers) 

Kirklees 

Phase 1

BBest Community Hub

Walk/Scoot/Dance/Run school challenge plus subsidised scooters 

Environment Kirklees

Hiring ebikes trial with Huddersfield University 

TSL Kirklees

Reconditioned bikes for asylum seekers in Kirklees with cycle training 

Phase 2

Dawatal Islam Committee

Loan bike scheme for community with bike mechanic training for volunteers  

Good Footing

Programme of wellbeing walks to support people at risk of mental health problems 

Manasamitra

Filmmaking project with local communities who are making a film about a cycling and walking route in their area, which will then be used to showcase the area to a wider audience 

Streetbikes

Women only bike rides for BAME community, targeting those who have suffered as a result of COVID-19 restrictions 

Support to Recovery

Coordination of existing local walking, cycling and running and addition of new activities. 

Empower – Leaders of the Future with Team Hanson

Promotion of walking, cycling and jogging to young members of the BAME community who are at risk of anti-social behaviour and gang related crime 

Calderdale 

Phase 1

Arts for Brighouse

Themed led walks  

Space at Field Lane Community Hub

Development of walking activities linked to Rastrick group on Field Lane estate 

Phase 2 

Cargodale

Cargo bike training for Todmorden residents and businesses 

Crew Heart Support

Walk leader training and led walks for older people coming out of isolation. 

Halifax Civic Trust

Leaflet and signage for improvement of historical route between Halifax and Hipperholme  

Happy Days

Walking group for previously homeless people who are now in a supported living facility  

Light Up Black and Africa Heritage

Led walks and park-based exercise sessions targeted at inactive and isolated members of the community 

Park Tennis Club

Equipment to enable the continuation of walking and cycling activities started during COVID-19 restrictions  

St Augustines Centre

Loan, maintain and ride scheme for asylum seekers new to the community 

Unique Community Hub Team

Programme of family walking and jogging activity in local parks 

Womens Activity Centre

Walk-and-talk support group for south-Asian women struggling with isolation 

Advancement of Community Empowerment CIC

Bike recycling project to engage young people on edge of criminal justice system  

Invictus Wellbeing

1:1 Walk and talk sessions for young people, delivered by a wellbeing practitioner 

Leeds 

Phase 1

St Lukes Cares and South Leeds Big Bike Fix

Recycling of bikes to give to people in need 

Bramley Baths

Inclusive walking groups around Bramley 

Kirkstall Valley Development Trust

E-bike loan scheme for volunteers 

Leeds Christian Community Trust and Leeds Dads

Led walking group for dads and summer picnic event 

Leeds LGBT+ Community Consortium

Walking for older members of LGBT community isolated during COVID-19

Moor Allerton Elderly Care

Socialisation walks for older people 

Naya Savera

Walking buddies for older members of BAME community 

Open Country

Accessible local walking information packs for people with mobility impairments 

Slung Low

Booklets for a themed walk around Holbeck and engagement with local schools 

The Conservation Volunteers

Weekly health walks for isolated older people 

Phase 2

Better Action for Families

Expand existing cycle group activities to include accessible and inclusive activities 

Black Health Initiative

Creation of a bike loan offer from existing hub and training of people to manage this 

Boston Spa, Wetherby & Villages Green Group and Boston Spa Parish Council

Bike recycling scheme with redistribution to those in need

Cross Gates and District Good Neighbours Scheme

Mental health and companionship support walks 

Experience Community

Adapted bikes to meet specific needs and training sessions for users  

Hope Project

Led walks for older people suffering the physical and mental effect of isolation  

Leeds Irish Health and Homes

Led walks and bikes for led rides to support wellbeing of isolated older males   

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Community

Led bike rides for refugees to address inactivity and promote the wellbeing of being part of a group 

ODD Bike

Repair and repurposing of bikes and upskilling of local people to enable them to maintain the bikes 

Otley 2030

Bike maintenance workshops for primary schools, a local 'cycling summer camp’ and Walking for Health walks targeting older vulnerable people in the community 

Zest Leeds

Weekly walking groups for men suffering from isolation and inactivity

Community hubs

In 2019 The Compton Centre, Harehills, Seacroft’s Community Hub at Deacon House, Seacroft South One Stop Centre and Halton Library received 14 new bikes, 10 new bike lockers, plus spare parts and advance bike maintenance training for a member of staff to service the fleet.

All four community hubs are located near to our segregated cycling and walking route between Seacroft and Leeds city centre – the eastern section of our award-winning Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway.

Find out more information about this initiative.

During 2022 we plan to develop five community cycling and walking hubs across West Yorkshire. These hubs will help deliver West Yorkshire's Connectivity Strategy and make walking and cycling the first choice for short trips, and part of longer journeys by bus and train.   

Watch 'Catching-up with Open Country at the Castleford Greenway Opening' Video with Audio Description