The City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, has awarded national charity Living Streets an £85,900 grant for a unique walking project which aims to help older people live more active, healthy and independent lives.

The project, in Enfield and Redbridge, aims to improve health and wellbeing and enhance independence of older people at-risk of isolation, through increased walking.

The funding will go towards addressing issues preventing older Londoners from walking using community street audits to uncover barriers to walking, and working with community groups to help increase physical activity.

Over the next two years the project will involve community based initiatives enabling older people to become more active through walking so they will feel physically fitter and healthier and have a greater sense of social connectedness.

Living Streets is the UK charity for everyday walking – campaigning for change and working to create better streets and public spaces that are fit for walking.

David Farnsworth, Director of City Bridge Trust, said:

“We are delighted to be able to support a community project that will really make a difference to the lives of so many older Londoners. Walking is key to a healthy lifestyle and socialising is just as important. City Bridge Trust is committed to supporting Londoners to make the city a fairer place to work and live. We are pleased to have helped so many projects through the fund that are opening up incredible opportunities and enhancing lives.”

Julia Crear, Regional Director (South), Living Streets, added:

“Redbridge is the 11^th most inactive borough in London, and faces a need to create opportunities for its ageing population to connect with their community. There’s no magic solution to these health or social isolation problems – but walking is a step in the right direction. Walking is an easy and accessible way for people to fit more activity into their day, improving their mental and physical health and allowing them to engage with their local community. However, the environment in London often prevents older people from being active.

“This funding will allow us to place older people at the heart of the project with the aim of improving levels of physical activity through walking, encouraging them to take an active role in their community and improving streets for walking.”

City Bridge Trust is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital.

The Trust has awarded around 7,500 grants totalling over £350 million since it first began in 1995.

It helps achieve the Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

ENDS

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884 / 020 7332 1125