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 | North East Post A Voice of the Free Press |
12:10 AM 17th December 2021
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More Kids Cycling In The North East Through Bikeability Trust
More children in the north-east will be given the opportunity to learn to cycle thanks to new funding from the Bikeability Trust and Department for Transport.
Four projects in the North-East will receive a share of more than £1.6million from the Widening Participation Fund. The Fund is being released to help achieve the Government’s ambition to offer cycle training to every child. The money will be used to fund projects that help children who wouldn’t usually learn how to cycle become confident cyclists.
“Our mission is to ensure every child can learn how to cycle.
Many children face barriers to cycling. The Active Lives children’s survey found that boys are more likely to be active than girls, children from affluent areas are more likely to be active than children from poorer backgrounds, and children from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be less active than children from white backgrounds.
To overcome these challenges, the Widening Participation Fund is supporting projects that remove these barriers and help children learn to ride and keep cycling into adulthood.
Research shows that cycling at a young age has a long-term beneficial impact on the health of children, right through to adulthood. Studies have shown that cycling provides positive experiences, enjoyment, self-esteem, reduced stress and improved mood.
Across England more than 1000 bikes will be purchased for children from deprived areas to learn to ride on. Alongside the bikes, projects will deliver Bikeability sessions in the community to enable children and their parents to learn to cycle together. Children from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds will benefit from community-based projects to help them access cycle training. Other projects will empower girls to cycle more by improving self-esteem and providing aspirational female cycling role models.
Emily Cherry, Chief Executive at the Bikeability Trust, said:
“Our mission is to ensure every child can learn how to cycle. These innovative projects will address the barriers that could prevent a child from learning to ride.
“I am so proud of the creativity and originality we have seen in the successful bids. With the support and ingenuity of the organisations out there delivering Bikeability, our mission is on track. From providing cycles to giving children inspirational cycling role models, the Widening Participation Fund projects will give more children and their families discover the joys of cycling.”
“Our mission is to ensure every child can learn how to cycle. These innovative projects will address the barriers that could prevent a child from learning to ride.
“I am so proud of the creativity and originality we have seen in the successful bids. With the support and ingenuity of the organisations out there delivering Bikeability, our mission is on track. From providing cycles to giving children inspirational cycling role models, the Widening Participation Fund projects will give more children and their families discover the joys of cycling.”
In Sunderland, RISE will create a cycling learning centre to help children and their families who wouldn’t usually have access to cycle training take part in Bikeability. Sessions will cater for groups that don’t usually learn to ride, including young girls and children from deprived communities.
Suzanne McDermott, Infrastructure and Environment Strategic Lead at Rise said:
“We’re incredibly delighted to have been successful in our bid to the Widening Participation Fund. The funding will help RISE work with the Sunderland Young People’s Bike Project to expand the reach of Bikeability training, making it more accessible to families who may not have access to bikes and to young people who don’t participate in the training at school.”
“We’re incredibly delighted to have been successful in our bid to the Widening Participation Fund. The funding will help RISE work with the Sunderland Young People’s Bike Project to expand the reach of Bikeability training, making it more accessible to families who may not have access to bikes and to young people who don’t participate in the training at school.”
In South Shields, Bright Futures, will use the fund to work with girls and young women to help address the barriers they face to cycling. The project will teach cycling, improve confidence, and help girls and women learn essential bike maintenance skills.
Managing Directors Helen Bowman and Nicola Whalen said:
"Bright Futures are looking forward to having the opportunity to engage young women in cycling. The project will address some of the barriers young women have told us that they face, including a fear of cycling alone and knowing safe cycle routes in their local area. Furthermore, the project will benefit young womens physical and mental health and increase their social networks."
"Bright Futures are looking forward to having the opportunity to engage young women in cycling. The project will address some of the barriers young women have told us that they face, including a fear of cycling alone and knowing safe cycle routes in their local area. Furthermore, the project will benefit young womens physical and mental health and increase their social networks."
The Bikeability Trust has invested more than £1.6million in helping children access cycling, through the Innovation Fund and the Widening Participation Fund. You can find out more about Bikeability at bikeability.org.uk.