We just want to enjoy a family cycle ride

A family cycle ride is something many people can take for granted.

However if you’re one of the 46,000 disabled people who live across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes (that’s 1 in 5 people) a cycle ride can be harder than you think, and much harder than it should be.

After identifying the barriers to cycling facing disabled people Active in the Community CIC (AITC) set about creating accessible and affordable opportunities.

They invested in a range of adapted cycles including a tandem, hand bikes, trikes and a wheelchair carrier, then trained volunteers on how to use the cycles and lead engaging sessions.

This first pioneering inclusive cycling session at Marlow Athletics Track proved incredibly popular. However transport remained an issue for disabled people in the north of the county and so a partnership between Leap and AITC was created to widen provision through the Opening School Facilities fund (OSF).

The new venue needed to be accessible, level and have plenty of space. The Senior Leadership team at Kingsbrook School (part of Insignis Academy Trust) in Aylesbury was in discussions with Leap and Active in the Community about the Opening Schools Facility project and they had the ideal facilities.

Key factors

  • The right space

The space needed to be safe, supportive and accessible. The right facilities for inclusive cycling can be difficult to find but opening up Kingsbrook School’s facilities was the perfect solution. A coordinated approach and agreed terms meant opening the Kingsbrook facilities had minimal impact for school staff.

  • Truly inclusive

A range of adapted cycles were purchased that could cater for individuals with a variety of impairments, special educational needs (SEN) and those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to cycle using a standard bike. These included a tandem, hand bikes, trikes and a wheelchair carrier. Staff were trained how to use the cycles and empower participants and their families to do the same.

  • Bringing along family

It was decided that each rider could bring two family members to the session, so they could participate together. This reduces the nerves that some might have about joining a group and it encourages families to get active together. Parents commented that it was rare for siblings with and without a disability to be able to participate in an activity together. The tandem and wheelchair carrier even allow two people to share the experience on the same bike!

 

Who were the key players and what did they bring?

AITC

Active In the Community (AITC) provide fully staffed facility management for schools as well as running community projects to make physical activity accessible and affordable. They brought a proven concept of inclusive cycling to the project, having tested it in Marlow. In addition, AITC recruited and trained the volunteers and secured investment for cycle storage.

“We’re delighted with this collaboration, it’s enabled us to expand the opportunities for inclusive cycling in Buckinghamshire and experience the positive impact these sessions have on participants and their families.”

Amelia Evans | Physical Activity Programme Officer, AITC

The Kingsbrook School (Insignis Academy Trust)

Providing the fantastic facility and commitment to engaging and serving their local community.

“Working with AITC and Leap has been brilliant. They’ve helped us provide a much needed inclusive cycling session which serves our local community and really positions us as a destination activity. The partnership meant setting up and managing the session hasn’t been too onerous on staff.”

Ali Arber | Wellbeing Lead, Insignis Academy Trust

Leap

Connections, expertise and investment. Through the Opening School Facilities Fund, Leap were able to ensure the right range and number of cycles were purchased to enable the session to take place.

“This was a fantastic partnership to build on the brilliant work of Active in the Community. The Department of Education Opening School Facilities programme enabled us to expand this inclusive cycling session to benefit a new community.”

Rhiannon Smith |  Development Manager, Leap

 

What did people think?

“Firstly, thank you for making these sessions inclusive for the entire family! The space at Kingsbrook School is perfect and a very good range of cycles. Very happy with this activity.”

Parent of participant

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“Safe, big space for our kids to do something that is difficult to do elsewhere and requires specialist cycles.”

Parent of participant

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“My little boy was very nervous at the start of the session and he didn’t have the confidence to get on a trike. He lacks confidence because he has difficulties balancing but because of the straps and because he was close to the ground he developed his confidence.

After 5 minutes, we helped him by holding on to him and then for the rest of the session he was very happily riding round on his own and was extremely confident by the end. My little boy really benefited from this session today, thank you very much.”

Parent of participant