The following projects have been funded by the Cornwall Active Travel Social Prescribing (ATSP) pilot. These were funded using a grant from Active Travel England. They are time-limited and most are available until the end of June 2024 (please check with the provider to avoid disappointment). For information about our pilot please see our Active Travel Social Prescribing (ATSP) Pilot page.
The projects are targeted at people registered with GPs in:
- Bodmin
- St Austell and the China Clay Areas
- Penzance (including Newlyn, Heamoor and Gulval)
They typically support the following:
- adults seeking to improve their mental health and wellbeing
- adults with poor physical health (including long term health conditions)
- disabled people (adults)
- unemployed adults
- adults aged 50+
Some projects are targeted on a specific population group. (Please check details to avoid disappointment).
Cornwall Active Travel Social Prescribing Projects
Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs)
Through the ATSP pilot you can be supported by a Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP). They will help to build walking and cycling into your everyday journeys. They will work with you on a 1-1 basis to identify and address your barriers to travelling actively. They will connect you to free provision in your community. (Including the projects supported by the ATSP pilot). They also have limited resources that they can provide (e.g. free beryl bike minutes, free bus passes).
How to access: Ask your health professional or one of the projects below to make a referral. They can use the professional referral form on the Healthy Cornwall website.
Case-studies:
Active Cornwall:
Wellbeing Walks Cornwall (to support Active Travel)
The ATSP pilot is supporting Active Cornwall’s free walk leader training with the
Ramblers Association. You can join walks across Cornwall or train to become a walk leader yourself.
Area: Penzance, St Austell and The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access:
Bosvena Health:
Walk for Wellbeing Groups
The ATSP pilot is supporting the Social Prescribers at Bosvena Health to lead an active walk on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. The walk is friendly and fully accessible. It is suitable for beginners and those with mobility issues, walking over easy ground at a steady pace. If you are concerned about mobility issues, please let them know as they can support.
Area: Bodmin
How to access: please email Michelle Hill at michelle.hill33@nhs.net or phone 07932606211 for further information and to book a place.
British Cycling:
Sofa to Saddle Cornwall – Empowering Communities though British Cycling Participation Programmes
British Cycling supports people to learn to ride a bike. Through the ATSP pilot they are running a ride leadership programme (training new ride leaders). They offer Sofa to Saddle sessions, adaptive cycling, guided rides and BMXercise.
Area: Penzance, St Austell & The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access:
- Book online
Or - contact British Cycling about future sessions by emailing atspcornwall@britishcycling.org.uk
Case-studies and in the press:
- British Cycling support women at Treyla to use Beryl Bikes
- Chaos Radio on 21st November talking about the project
Cornwall Life Recycle:
The Active Cycle (Diwrosa) Connection: “Activating Journeys, Transforming Paths: Learn, Connect, Cycle, Change”
Cornwall Life Recycle helps people to learn to ride. Through the ATSP pilot they are offering support to people to plan routes, learn to ride and maintain a bike. They have a variety of bikes, including accessible trikes. They also offer bike check/basic service to help get your bike on the road.
Area: Penzance, St Austell & The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access: see what’s on via the Cornwall Life Recycle website
Case-studies:
Curious School of the Wild:
Waymaking
The ATSP pilot is supporting Curious School of the Wild to take people on journeys using public transport.
Area: Bodmin
How to access: Check online at the Curious School of the Wild website
GLL Leisure:
B.E.A.T. Project (Better Engagement In Active Travelling)
GLL Leisure are based at Bodmin Leisure Centre and St Austell Leisure Centre. They are using their ATSP pilot grant to run engagement sessions to support members of the public to get into cycling. They are working in collaboration with Cornwall Life Recycle and other partners. Together, they have provided people with the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at cycling for the first time. (This includes using adaptive bikes). They have taught people to mend punctures, and have run several bike MOT days.
Area: St Austell & The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access:
- email thecornwallbicycleproject@outlook.com for details of the next BEAT project sessions
Case studies and in the press:
Into Bodmin:
Walking Bus Initiative for Bodmin Community Wellbeing
Into Bodmin lead walks around Bodmin to areas people would normally drive to. The walks are led by a creative practitioner, enhancing social connections and tackling isolation. Walks take place on Tuesdays (10am-12 noon) and start and finish at the Old Library. A free drink is provided at the end.
Area: Bodmin.
How to access: Email Into Bodmin at sara@intoBodmin.co.uk
Or call 01208 811185.
Lanhydrock National Trust site:
Walks and Cycle Rides at Lanhydrock to Encourage Walking and Cycling for Active Travel
The National Trust provide walking and cycling provision around Lanhydrock. They work closely with the diabetic service and Bosvena Health (GP surgery). This is to engage people with diabetes and their supporters. Walks take place on Wednesdays at 11am and start at the café.
Area: Bodmin.
How to access: meet the walk leaders (wearing hi-vis jackets) at the Lanhdrock café.
Mencap:
Our Active Community Travel Fund. Supporting People with a Learning Disability to Lead Active Lifestyles
Mencap support people with learning disabilities. Through the ATSP pilot they found out the barriers people face when travelling actively. They created an Active Travel Fund to support people with learning difficulties to access activities in an active travel way.
Area: St Austell & The China Clay Area.
How to access: this is a targeted project. Participants must be already supported by Mencap
Parkwood Leisure:
Walx
The ATSP pilot is supporting Parkwood Leisure in Penzance to run WALX. This is a 6 week lifestyle plan which combines walking based wellness and mobility sessions. They offer simple weekly tips about being active, eating well and looking after mental health. The sessions are free for 6 weeks for people eligible under the ATSP pilot.
Area: Penzance.
How to access: see Walx website or email active.pz@parkwood-leisure.co.uk.
RideOn E-Bikes:
Flexible Term E-Bike and Equipment Loans, and Confidence Training to Facilitate Active Travel
Through the ATSP pilot RideOn have 12 electric bikes. These are available to people on flexible loans (from 1 week up to 3 months) at a massively discounted rate of £1/day. They also provide confidence-building sessions to use the bikes. Each bike is fully equipped with bags, baskets, tools, safety equipment, tracking, and a lock.
Photo
Area: Penzance, St Austell & The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access: Bike loans are arranged via a Health Improvement Practitioner.
St Petrocs:
Unlocking Cornwall: Project to Encourage Public Transport for People Experiencing Homelessness
Through the ATSP pilot St Petrocs is supporting people living in supported housing to use public transport. They build up the confidence of clients to use trains, buses and Beryl Bikes/cycle hires.
Area: Penzance, St Austell & The China Clay Area and Bodmin.
How to access: this is a targeted project. Participants must be already supported by St Petrocs.
Sustainable PNZ:
An Interactive Walking Map of Penzance Supported by Community Workshops & Events
Sustainable PNZ have created an accessible walking map of the Penzance area. They co-designed the map with the community. They are running group walks with trained volunteers and have created an interactive online version of the map.
Area: Penzance.
How to access: walks are advertised on Sustanible Penzance Website.
The Eden Project:
Routes to Nature Connection. Increasing Awareness about ‘Active Travel’ to Activities at the Eden Project
Through a grant from the ATSP Fund Eden are delivering walking events. They are mapping the different routes into Eden Project. This is to align with where their social prescribing programme is located. The majority of participants had not walked the paths before. This is despite many having lived in the area for some time. Eden Project have carried out a full audit of existing walking infrastructure on their outer estate. They are currently:
- creating the new map graphic
- additional and directional signage for way-finding
- sourcing benches
They are working collaboratively with:
- Natural England
- Active Cornwall
- Treverbyn Hall
- the Wildlife Trust
- local residents and groups
This is to put on a ‘Clay Trails Festival’ in May 2025.
Area: St Austell & China Clay Areas.
How to access: walks are advertised on Social Media. Please see more details on the nature connections webpage.
Volunteer Cornwall have co-created a user-friendly map with local people. It shows ways of travelling between Roche and St. Dennis without using a car.
Area: St Austell & The China Clay Area.
How to access: The map will shortly be available.
Whole Again Communities:
Treneere Walk
Whole Again Communities are supporting people in Treneere in Penzance to walk for travel as opposed to taking a taxi or the car. People can take part in one of two 12-week programmes of walking to destinations that people would usually take a car or taxi to. Walks are on a Tuesday at 10am.
Area: Penzance.
How to access: via a HIP or contact info@wholeagaincommunities.co.uk or phone 07835 950853 (opening hours only).
Wild Wonder and Wisdom:
Wellbeing Walk/Talks
Wild Wonder and Wisdom is leading weekly walks that link local transport with leisure facilities and outside spaces. They provide help to buy waterproofs and footwear if required. There is the opportunity to try beginner cycle session through Cornwall Life Recycle and The Bicycle Project.
Area: St Austell & The China Clay Area.
How to access: Book a place through the Wild Wonder & Wisdom Website.