Do you belong to a community group near the National Cycle Network? Would you like to improve or enhance the spaces along your local path, or learn how to support its wildlife? If you do, you could secure equipment and expert advice with a Love Your Network grant.
Carys Hughes/Sustrans
The Love Your Network grant is currently closed for new applications, and will reopen during June 2022.
The Love Your Network grant is funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Sustrans Scotland.
Its purpose is to empower community groups to improve their local section of the National Cycle Network.
With a Love Your Network grant, your group could gain:
- Litter-picking equipment to transform the safety and attractiveness of your local path
- Training with a wildlife expert to learn how to record the birds, bees and butterflies in your area. Check out the Building Roots project which did just this.
- Access to tools, from trowels to scythes, to make more significant improvements to spaces along the Network.
By caring for these spaces and the wildlife who call them home, your community group can make journeys on the National Cycle Network more attractive and enjoyable.
You'll be encouraging many more people to choose walking and cycling for their everyday journeys.
This will benefit their own physical and mental health, as well as the environment and their local community.
What support can I apply for through Love Your Network in Scotland?
Following community feedback, the Love Your Network grant now enables groups to submit applications for equipment and training bundles.
These bundles are available to community groups who want to deliver projects which will benefit people or wildlife on the traffic-free paths of the National Cycle Network in Scotland.
Love Your Network bundles include:
- Litter-picking equipment
- Hand tools
- Wildlife ID training
- Ecology advice
Community groups also have the option to build their own application, if they need items or training not featured within a bundle.
For example, your group could request a bike trailer, hi-vis vests or power tools.
Please download the grant guidelines for full details.
Please note: Projects which are suitable for a Love Your Network grant will be based on a traffic-free section of a numbered National Cycle Network route.
If you're unsure about whether your area meets this criteria, please do get in touch and we'll happily discuss this.
Who can apply?
Love Your Network grants will be available to:
- Constituted community groups
- Registered charities
- Social enterprises
Individuals and profit-making companies are not eligible to apply.
If you are an informal group without a constitution but you can otherwise demonstrate your organisation and impact, please contact us for advice.
When can applications be made?
Applications can be made from 09:00, 31 August 2021 until 23:59 on 6 February 2022.
We reserve the right to extend this date. Changes will be published on this page.
How do I apply?
- Download and read the Love Your Network grant guidelines before applying.
- Start your online application.
If you have any questions about the Love Your Network grant or the application process, please email Hannah Taylor.
