Active travel social prescribing

What is the active travel social prescribing pilot?

A total of £13.9 million is being provided to 11 local authorities over 3 years for active travel social prescribing pilots. The pilots will trial ways in which health workers can be supported to prescribe walking and cycling for health, well-being and to promote active travel for everyday journeys.

Social prescribing is sometimes known as a community referral. Referrals are often made by primary care professionals such as nurses and GPs. 

Active Travel England works in partnership with the following government departments and organisations to provide advice and support to the 11 pilot areas:

• NHS England
• Department of Health & Social Care
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Department for Transport
• Sport England
• Office for Health Improvement & Disparities
• National Academy for Social Prescribing

What does the pilot involve?

Pilot areas are developing walking and cycling activities to enable behaviour change.

Local authorities are tailoring the social prescribing funding to best suit local communities. Local projects include:

• guided and training activities
• schemes to provide cycles and e-cycles 
• linking with infrastructure investment
• community grant schemes

In the long term, the pilot hopes to increase physical activity levels and support participants to make active travel decisions independently. 

Social prescribing pilot funding