St Helens groups can apply for £5,000 Tour de France grants

The fund supports projects across the Liverpool City Region that will benefit from the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ.

Launched on November 10, the Tour de France Grand Départ Community Legacy Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for cycling-related initiatives in St Helens, Liverpool, Knowsley and beyond.

Councillor George Woodward, leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Tour de France to St Helens and being part of such a prestigious global sporting event.

"This funding presents a fantastic opportunity for community groups to develop projects that encourage even more people to get involved in cycling, which can lead to a boost for health and wellbeing.

"We want the benefits of hosting the Tour de France to extend far beyond race day itself, and this legacy fund will help ensure the event leaves a positive and lasting impact on our borough for many years to come."

Map of Stage 2 of Tour de France 2027 which begins in Keswick and finishes in Liverpool (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority)

The fund is part of the Liverpool City Region Major Sports Small Grants Programme and supports projects that are inclusive, accessible and sustainable.

It is jointly funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Council and St Helens Council.

Applications are open until December 1, 2026, for projects that will run between March 2027 and March 2028.

The fund aims to ensure that the impact of hosting the Tour de France is felt both before and after the event by making cycling more accessible.

Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, captivating millions of fans as the world’s best cyclists push themselves to the limit.

"We’re a region that lives and breathes sport, and this fund is about giving more local people the opportunity to get on their bikes and discover the benefits of cycling.

"The Tour de France may only be here for a day, but its impact on our region will last for years."