Community cycling project coming soon in Ketley Bank, Oakengates and St Georges
A project that will encourage people to cycle more by helping to teach people how to ride and fix bikes, provide courses in schools, and skill up volunteer "Ride Leaders," is due to start in April.
Known as 'KOG', the Ketley Bank, Oakengates, and St Georges Community Cycling Project will be organised by Telford & Wrekin Council.
A partnership involving the council, Energize, Bikes4Kids and Shropshire Cycle Hub secured £10,000 from Sport England's Together Funding to fund the project.
Additional funding was also secured from Energize and Telford & Wrekin Council’s Safer & Stronger communities project, making the total project fund over £12,500.
'KOG' will work with schools, community groups, community centres and religious establishments in Ketley Bank, Oakengates and St Georges to encourage cycling and help people overcome obstacles to cycling.
The project includes training for volunteers for 'workforce development' and the forming of a community cycling club.
Cllr Kelly Middleton (Lab), Cabinet Member for Leisure, Public Health and Wellbeing, Equalities and Partnerships, said:
"Cycling can often be highly beneficial to people's physical and mental health.
"The goal of KOG will be to give people in Ketley Bank, Oakengates, and St Georges a bit of extra encouragement to give cycling a try or to go back to it.
"For example, we know people often lose confidence in old age in their ability to cycle - projects like this will tackle that and give people the confidence to pick it up again.
"But no matter people's age, KOG will promote cycling as an option for travel, exercise, recreation and sociability, to get people into cycling."
To find out more contact Holly, the KOG Community Cycling Advisor via KOG@shropshirecyclehub.uk
