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More Kids Cycling In Yorkshire Through Bikeability Trust

More children in West Yorkshire will be given the opportunity to learn to cycle thanks to new funding from the Bikeability Trust and Department for Transport.

Three projects in West Yorkshire will receive a total of £149,410. The investment is 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.

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.

“Our mission is to ensure every child can learn how to cycle.

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.”

In Kirklees, Legacy Ride will use their funding to provide a fleet of cycles for use by schools where children may not have access to cycles at home. Cycles will be used to take part in Bikeability and other clubs and classes, to help embed cycling into the school community.

Kate Wylie said:
“I cannot wait to see the difference that this project will make to children in Kirklees. We put in a joint bid for the whole of Kirklees so that we could all work together to help improve children’s cycling and overall confidence. We know how much Bikeability means to those who take part and this fantastic project will children to improve their cycling skills, and not just for the two days of their Bikeability course.”

In Bradford, Bike Futures will support Asian families to cycle more by putting on Dr Bike sessions, teaching Bikeability in the community and training more instructors from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Ian Cullen said:
“We are delighted to be successful in our application to Bikeability’s Widening Participation Fund. This funding will make a real difference to children and communities in Bradford and opportunities for active travel in the city. In our partnering schools, learning to ride a bike will be accessible and normalised.”

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.