Cycling Champions

Swindon is to benefit from part of a £6.3million project to promote cycling to the less physically active. The four-year national 'Cycling Champions' project starts in January 2008 and will be run by CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club), the UK's national cyclists' organisation, with backing from the Big Lottery Fund.

The funding will be used to employ project officers in 13 locations under the title of "Cycling Champions". Each of these officers will support and run local cycling projects promoting cycling in cooperation with other voluntary sector organisations, local authorities and the health sector. One of the project's new Community Cycling Development Officers will join the Great Western Community Forest team in Swindon and will work with local community groups to develop cycling initiatives.

In Swindon, the Cycling Champions project will include activities such as group rides, Bike Buddy schemes, cycling for health schemes, cycle training and cycle maintenance courses, and generally support novice cyclists.

The Great Western Community Forest is delighted to be involved in this exciting partnership with the CTC. In the past year, Community Forest has been developing National Standards Cycle training and promoting cycling in Swindon through the team's involvement with the Active Swindon project. The Cycling Champions programme will help to drive up physical activity levels in Swindon through establishing cycling as a major activity for all sectors of the Community. It will also compliment the excellent work going on within Swindon’s schools through the Bike It project.

Further information

For further information on the national Cycling Champions project visit the CTC website (www.ctc.org.uk), for more information on the Swindon programme contact Tamina Oliver on Tel: 01793 466315 or by email: toliver@swindon.gov.uk.