GO Cycle Glasgow has announced the recipients of its £160,000 fund, with 29 community groups being successful in winning a share of the cash for their cycling initiatives.
Groups to receive the funding include Glasgow Afghan United Women’s Empowerment Project, Movement Park, Women on Wheels, Bikes for Refugees and Glasgow Tandem Club.
The Go Cycle Glasgow Fund, created by Glasgow Life, is to help groups promote cycling either as a sport or for travel while also boosting efforts around the UCI Cycling World Championships in August this year.
The money will help community groups across the city develop accessible cycling projects for the public.
Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “I am excited to announce the recipients of funding from the Go Cycle Glasgow Fund, and I am hugely impressed by the ambition and commitment of these local community groups to deliver such an innovative range of cycling related projects, to get more people active and enjoying all the benefits that cycling can bring.
“2023 is another significant year for Glasgow as we prepare to be in the international spotlight, hosting five of the 13 Cycling World Championship events at venues across the city. We have a strong track record of successfully hosting major international events and are renowned for giving visitors to our city such a warm welcome.
“However, even more importantly, we are committed to ensuring that the people of Glasgow get the opportunity to engage with the event and benefit long-term from enhanced opportunities for physical activity, health and wellbeing.”
Groups working with young people, women, people with disabilities, low-income families and ethnic minorities were given priority for the funding to make cycling an activity for anyone regardless of background or ability.
All of the successful community groups received up to £10,000 for their projects that meet requirements such as encouraging local people to use cycling for sport and recreation and providing cycling for underrepresented groups.
Funding has also been awarded to cover costs for cycling equipment, storage, training and safety equipment.
One of the recipients is Glasgow Afghan United Women’s Empowerment Project which provides services for more than 70 women, including refugees and asylum seekers, in north Glasgow to promote confidence and education as well as overcoming barriers.
The funding will go towards a cycling programme that teaches beginners essential bike skills such as traveling safely for leisure, transport and health, which can now be expanded with the money to meet growing demand.
The skills development cycling classes will be able to offer lessons to children and young people to allow families to participate together, as well as increasing its group rides from weekly to twice a week.
Sports facility Movement Park was also one of the successful recipients of the award, for its BMX club.
It is hoping to introduce thousands of young people into the sport.
Based in Whiteinch, the converted warehouse offers a variety of activities for children and adults to participate in such as skateboarding, rollerblading and cycling lessons and classes for families to participate in.
Stephen Somerville, founder and chief executive at Movement Park, said: “It has just came at a nice time for us, we have had the BMX club now for a year so it is building nicely, the fund will allow us to go two nights when the season kicks in in March as well as a family session.
"It is to try and teach kids how to use bikes first of all and then introducing them to the track and then hopefully pushing them into the club if they are enjoying it.
“The fund will allow us to go around all the various schools and try and rally an interest in BMX ahead of the world championships to try and make the track a bit busier, so it is just a nice time for us.”
Women on Wheels, a community cycling hub that is run by women for women, is also celebrating the good news of receiving funding.
It offers services such as cycling lessons, cycle confidence classes, maintenance classes to teach lessons in punctures and roadside repairs for bikes, as well as various social events.
Shgufta Anwar, founding director at Women on Wheels, said: “We are absolutely delighted, we are currently working with those who are able to get to our hub so with this funding we will reach out to the community and if they have transport barriers to get to us, we will take our bikes and take our services to them.
"The funding means that we are able to extend our services to a wider geographic audience.”
Additionally, the community project runs a bike loan library which allows members to borrow a bike for the month or loan accessories such as helmets, locks, child seats and trailers.
Niki Spence, head of sustainable communities at Clyde Gateway, said: “We are thrilled to be able to contribute funding to the Go Cycle project. With active travel and health and wellbeing high on our agenda, this project will allow local community groups to develop new and exciting opportunities to get more people cycling.
“Clyde Gateway has an abundance of green spaces, many with designated pump and cycle tracks, which will hopefully encourage residents to get out on their bikes and enjoy their surroundings.”
