Leicester City Council offer two grants to help businesses encourage staff and visitors alike to choose active and sustainable travel.
The Sustainable Travel Grant provides match funding of up to £5,000 for projects that support more journeys made by all sustainable modes, while the Cycling Challenge Grant offers up to £300 to help businesses enable an uptake of cycling.
Whether your project is encouraging staff to cycle or walk to work, take the bus or use one of the Park & Ride sites around the city, we’ll help you make it happen.
Sustainable Travel Grant (up to £5,000)
The Sustainable Travel Grant provides up to £5,000 towards projects that encourage more sustainable travel including cycle parking, lockers, changing facilities, signage, travel information and staff engagement activities such as a walking challenge.
Funding is usually awarded on a match-funded basis, although where a business can support the aims of the Active Travel Team, in-kind contributions may be accepted as part of the match.
To apply for the grant, simply complete the Sustainable Travel Grant Application Form (PDF, 184 KB), outlining why your project is needed, what you plan to do, the anticipated costs, and how you will monitor and evaluate its success. Submit this to the Active Travel Business Engagement Team at choosehowyoumove@leicester.gov.uk. We are on hand to support you throughout the application process and, once approved, help you get your project underway.
Cycling Challenge Grant (up to £300)
The Cycling Challenge Grant provides up to £300 to help any organisation increase cycling.
Funding can be used for a range of activities and equipment, including bike locks for staff or visitors, guided rides, workplace cycling challenges, learn-to-ride sessions, cycle maintenance training and annual Active Leicester Bike Park membership.
Unlike the Sustainable Travel Grant, this funding does not need to be matched.
To apply for this grant, simply complete the Application Form outlining your project, what the grant will be used for, who will benefit and how you will measure its success.
Email this to cycle-city@leicester.gov.uk and you will be invited to attend the next monthly Cycle City Workshop to discuss your project and answer any questions. A decision on your application will be made at the meeting.
Case Study - £5,000 Sustainable Travel Grant (match-funded)
NHS have a net zero travel and transport strategy. They have committed to decarbonise all its operations, including in travel and transport, by 2040.
One of their current initiatives is to use Leicester City Council’s Sustainable Travel Grant to focus on their staff’s health and well-being.
They took a holistic approach to removing all barriers preventing staff in the lowest pay bandings to participating in active travel and matched the £5,000 grant to offer free cycle training, a voucher for the purchase of a second-hand bike and equipment, a free D-Lock (police-rated) and the opportunity to learn how to maintain their bike.
They work in partnership with Cycopaths (a social enterprise) and Northside bikes.
Case Study - £5,000 Sustainable Travel Grant (matched 'in kind')
Created By TEN, a creative studio based in Leicester, successfully applied for the £5,000 Sustainable Travel Grant to make cycling a more attractive option for staff and building users. Their aim was to reduce reliance on the car, promote healthier lifestyles and create safe, practical facilities that would encourage more people to cycle to their new studio.
The funding was used to install a new shower and lockers, purchase two pool bikes complete with accessories, and fit secure wall-mounted cycle storage.
Rather than provide match funding, Created By TEN contributed their creativity, skills and expertise by producing a bespoke video for Leicester City Council’s Active Travel Team, helping to promote walking and cycling for everyday journeys. Watch our video on the benefits of walking and cycling to work made by Created By TEN..
Case Study - £300 Cycling Challenge Grant
Turning Point is a Leicester-based charity that supports people experiencing substance use, homelessness, mental health challenges and other complex needs to rebuild their lives and live more independently.
The charity successfully applied for a £300 Cycling Challenge Grant to purchase 30 annual Bike Park memberships. This provides secure cycle parking for their service users while attending appointments and accessing community projects. By reducing the risk of theft or damage to their bikes, more people have the confidence to cycle more frequently.
Turning Point’s Manager, Richard Reid, said “Applying for the grant was an easy and incredibly positive process, meeting the panel and setting out our aims. The support afterwards from Travaz made it easy to track the Bike Park memberships and he even encouraged us to apply again this year. It also allows us to make our centre a much safer and welcoming space”.