Thanks to funding from the Landfill Disposal Tax administered by the WCVA we have been currently supporting several initiatives for young people to gain skills and confidence.
We are delighted to share the recent progress from our Landfill Disposal Tax funded project, where young people are gaining confidence, mechanical skills, and a passion for cycling, learning, and volunteering. Through a combination of practical workshops, cycling sessions, and community-focused activities, we are seeing some real impact.
The Youth Volunteer element of this initiative has so far welcomed 27 young people from local schools and colleges all of whom have benefited from having access to an alternative, hands-on learning experiences.
These young volunteers are developing essential bike maintenance skills, learning to:
- Identify and fix issues with tyres, brakes, and gears
- Repair punctures and replace inner tubes
- Conduct safety checks to ensure bikes are roadworthy
They are not just working on bikes, they are building confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Through riding the full range of bikes we have on site, many have grown into more capable and confident riders, some even learning to ride for the very first time.
We are proud to share that two young volunteers have taken on advanced rebuild projects, fully stripping down and rebuilding bikes from scratch. One has progressed further by joining the Pedal Power volunteer team on a Thursday, where they are learning to adjust bikes to fit individual needs and assist with service delivery.
In 2024 the Learn 2 Ride initiative supported 65 new riders! With children starting at various experience levels from stabilizers and balance bikes to brand-new beginners.
Each session included:
- Basic safety instructions for riders and parents/carers
- One-to-one coaching tailored to individual needs
- Guidance on balance, braking, and steering
- Emphasis on mounting and dismounting on the left-hand side
Helmet checks and full bike safety checks are carried out before every session to ensure the safety of all participants.
The feedback has been fantastic:
“Really appreciated the time and guidance to get on two wheels. The course was brilliant, and we enjoyed attending.”
“The sessions were great for learners to get started with riding.”
We are excited to announce that new dates for the Learn 2 Ride sessions will be announced shortly!
Thanks to generous community support, our bike swap and reuse element of the project has received 38 donated bikes—equivalent to a total weight of approximately 529.73kg!
We’ve already successfully swapped 24 of these bikes, giving young people access to bikes that are better suited to their size and needs. Most donations have come in the form of children’s bikes, enabling smooth transitions to larger frames as they grow.
This initiative not only promotes sustainable reuse, but ensures every child has a chance to enjoy safe, reliable cycling.
With another 12 months left in this project, we are excited to keep working with these young people and sharing the valuable benefits of cycling and volunteering. For more information on this project and the Pedal Power service please do not hesitate to get in touch info@cycling4all.org / 07908 325 508
