As a new year begins and health and fitness are high on the agenda, sports inclusion charity Access Sport is highlighting the launch of free, inclusive cycling sessions for young people living in and around Little Hulton.
Funded by progressive landlord ForHousing, the sessions offer young people in the area an accessible, affordable sporting opportunity. With Little Hulton being in the top 10% of most deprived areas in England, this kind of opportunity is sparse, meaning the annual delivery of the inclusive cycling sessions, which kicked off late last year, is vital work in Greater Manchester.
Providing free-of-charge cycling tuition, bikes and helmets for children and young people, enabling them to participate in cycling and BMX, the collaboration between ForHousing and Access Sport will result in 460 young people in the local area increasing their levels of physical activity. What’s more, it will also connect them with their local green space (Peel Park) and support improvements in their personal development skills, such as confidence and resilience.
Having kicked off late last year, the project will run for 12 months, with every child who takes part gaining new skills such as how to cycle, how to travel more safely to school, and how to look after the equipment.
Access Sport also successfully applied to ForHousing’s Community Fund to run another initiative supporting young people who are not in employment, education, or training. From February, the four-week course will teach the group bike maintenance skills and will be a pilot for future projects. ForHousing’s Community Fund supports a wide range of projects each year via £500 grants for initiatives that benefit the community.
All sessions will take place at the purpose-built pump track in Peel Park, Little Hulton.
Mike Power, Access Sport Programme Leader, said: “Every child should learn how to ride a bike, but so many families just can’t afford to buy bikes, especially at the moment. We’ve got all ages and abilities taking part, it’s truly inclusive and great to see. A massive thanks to ForHousing for getting behind this project.”
Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing, said: “At ForHousing, we’re committed to improving people’s health and wellbeing, and it is great to give young people in the local area the chance to try something new and get active.
“We share Access Sport’s passion to make physical exercise achievable for everyone, so we are delighted to work in partnership with them to make more things possible for more people.”
The inclusive cycling sessions are open to all children and young people and take place every Thursday at 4.30pm. Bikes and helmets are provided for those who don’t have their own.
School sessions are available in four-week blocks for groups of 15 pupils. To find out more about these cycling sessions or make a booking, please email Rob Hawker at Access Sport at rob.hawker@accesssport.org.uk
