GM Walking and Wheeling Fund brings VCSFE and health sectors together

Moving more improves our health and wellbeing and for many people walking and wheeling is the easiest and most accessible route to getting more active.  

That’s why GM Moving’s Walking and Wheeling Fund exists, with many funding recipients working directly with the health care system to support community boost their health.  

Supported by the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, the fund distributes grants to voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. 

For more information on the impact of our grant programme, click here.

In the most recent funding round (24/25), GM Moving funded numerous organisations to work directly with our partners in health.  

Local Food First CIC, for example, collaborated and co-designed their walks with a local GP practice who then referred their patients into the group. 

Apex Health and Wellbeing partnered with Living Well Rochdale to recruit and train local walking champions, so the project can continue beyond the funded period. 

The investment also works to bring VCSE organisations closer to their local health partners and creates relationships which can continue to flourish throughout the summer.  

In Cheetham Hill, Creating Future Lives CIC have found that delivering their Walking and Wheeling Fund project has bolstered its reputation with local primary care networks, housing associations, and council teams. 

This led to new partnership opportunities and increased visibility.  

They’re now in discussion with the primary care networks to explore co-funding and in-kind support (e.g. indoor venues, promotion) to sustain regular walks as part of wider health and wellbeing strategies. 

Meanwhile, Bolton Together Children and Families Consortium used their strong local connections with the Family Hub Network and other statutory services to promote their walks and recruit new members.  

A funded project increased ManLeigh CIC visibility with sensory teams in the local health system. It is hoped that these connections will prompt referrals into ManLeigh’s new weekly drop-in for people with sight issues and neuro-muscular degenerative conditions which is due to launch soon.  

Finally, Wheels for All developed and delivered inclusive cycling sessions for children and young people with SEND after a local GP practice and Salford Council Health Improvement officers highlighted this as a local need.