Active Essex is proud to announce the launch of the third year of the Find Your Active (FYA) Small Grants fund. The pivotal funding partnership between Active Essex and London Marathon Foundation (LMF) continues following the Ford RideLondon-Essex 2024 event. As part of Active Essex’s successful Find Your Active campaign, LMF is again powering a small grants programme with a pot of £225,000 to support Essex projects that help residents lead active and healthy lives.
The partnership aims to support at least 75 innovative projects in Essex, Southend and Thurrock that are designed to promote physical activity and community wellbeing across the county. Since 2022, thanks to Essex hosting Ford RideLondon-Essex events, LMF has awarded funding totalling more than £1.75million to Active Essex to support 354 Essex based sport and physical activity based projects.
We have previously funded organisations like Move it or Lose it, who in Thundersley and Hadleigh helped support attendees aged over 50, 80% of which considered themselves inactive beforehand, through low impact and gentle movement sessions to help keep them moving. Another example is Post Natal Recovery Course, ‘From Bump Back to You’ in Basildon, which provides new mums with the support and information they need, on how to get active after having their baby when struggling to find help elsewhere.
The FYA Small Grants programme has been designed to ensure fair and impactful distribution of resources by targeting specific demographics and localities. The priority demographics in which the funding will be awarded to are Ethnically Diverse Communities Low Socio-Economic Groups, individuals with Long-Term Health Conditions and Disabilities (LTHC) and initiatives that focus on people’s mental health.
In line with the Ford RideLondon-Essex weekend, a proportion of the funding will be prioritised to the Mid and West areas of the County where the ride passes through.
Children and Young People will be the main beneficiaries of this funding though, as 50% of the funding pot has been allocated to projects supporting younger members of our Essex communities, providing them with the best introductions and experiences of sport and physical activity as possible.
Once funding opens, the application process will feature at least two funding rounds, each open for a four-week period. Following the application period, there will be a two-week evaluation phase where the panel will review submissions against the established criteria and area needs. All funded projects are expected to be completed by May 2025.
Active Essex, alongside the London Marathon Foundation is committed to fostering inclusive and more active communities. The grants programme is an essential part of this mission, providing crucial support to grassroots initiatives that help Essex residents stay active and healthy. The extension of this partnership is an example Active Essex’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all Essex residents through targeted support and community engagement.
Cllr Louise Mckinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Communities said; “Following another successful Ford RideLondon event in Essex, which brought huge benefits to the County, this new funding will enable more residents to enjoy a fun, healthy and active lifestyle. Sport and physical activity also has the power to strengthen and empower communities by bringing people together from all different walks of life.”
Mike Diaper, Interim Group Director Funding and Impact, London Marathon Foundation, said: “The London Marathon Foundation exists to inspire activity. Through our partnership with Active Essex, made possible by Ford RideLondon-Essex, we are delighted to be continuing to help more children and adults in communities right across Essex enjoy being active. The London Marathon Foundation has now granted Active Essex £2.25 million to support community and inclusive cycling initiatives since the first edition of Ford RideLondon-Essex in 2022 and is proud to be forging a lasting legacy of health and wellbeing in the county.”
