Updated GM Walking and Wheeling Fund re-opens to boost community health and wellbeing

By GM Moving | 18 August 2025 | TAGS: GM Walking and Wheeling Fund, Walking

The GM Walking and Wheeling Fund 2025/26 has re-opened to boost community health and wellbeing in Greater Manchester.

Last year, more than 1,700 people begun walking and wheeling more often thanks to support from the GM Walking and Wheeling Fund from GM Moving.

The investment, made possible by support from NHS GM, saw 33 organisations receive a share of nearly £85,000 via the fund in 2024/25.

Read our impact report on last year’s funding here.

Applicants have until midday on Friday 26 September 2025 to submit their proposals. The delivery period has been extended to May following feedback from previous grant recipients.

The extension is possible thanks to greater flexibility from funding partner NHS GM.

The upper limit on a medium grant has also increased from £5,000 to £7,000 after listening to last year's groups. GM Moving will provide more support to fewer groups as part of the approach.

Small grants remain at £2,000 to kickstart pilot projects. Read more about groups who have been supported in the past on the GM Walking website.

Guided by Active Lives data, groups working with those who are less active or inactive will be prioritised, including:

• People with a disability and/or long-term health conditions.
• People from lower socio-economic groups.
• Asian, Black and Chinese people (and particularly adults of Muslim faith).
• Women (and particularly pregnant women and those with a child or children under one year old).
• Adults aged 65 and over

To support potential applicants for the GM Walking and Wheeling Fund, there are Meet the Funder calls on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 September. You can sign-up here.

Carole Pollard, Community Walking Lead at GM Moving, said:

“This is our fifth year managing the GM Walking and Wheeling Fund and we’re so proud of the continued impact it has on participants’ health and wellbeing.

“We’re listening to groups and continue to adapt our investment to make sure it allows recipients to have the biggest possible impact.

“Walking and wheeling is the most accessible form of movement and can have life-changing benefits for those who are the least active.”