Cornwall to pilot new active travel scheme

The pilot scheme will promote physical activities

Cornwall has been chosen to pilot a new scheme aimed at encouraging adults to become more physically active.

The Active Travel Social Prescribing scheme aims to get people connected to activities, groups and services in their community to boost their health.

They can be referred by a range of professionals, such as GPs.

The pilot, funded by a £840,000 government grant, will initially focus on three areas - Penzance, Bodmin and St Austell.

The council has employed three health improvement practitioners who will work one-to-one with eligible adults to identify and overcome barriers to active travel.

Community groups and organisations are being given the chance to apply for funding for activities such as walking and cycling that will help people living in the three pilot areas.

Natalie Russell, Project Manager for Active Travel Social Prescribing at Public Health Cornwall, said: "This is a programme designed to help adults to begin to make cycling, walking and wheeling part of their everyday lives - and it's totally free.

"You'll get one-to-one support from a Health Improvement Practitioner who will work with you to identify existing walking and cycling provision that you can access and connect you to it.

"The pilot supports adults who are registered with a GP in one of the three pilot locations and is aimed primarily at people who are in poor health, unemployed, over 50 or living with a disability."