CYCLING opportunities for people with disabilities have received a cash boost.
Heart of England Mencap has received extra funding to expand its series of fully accessible cycling sessions.
The Cyc-Ability sessions are funded through the Warwickshire County Council’s Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund, which supports a wide range of community-powered initiatives across Warwickshire that are addressing the climate change emergency.
Heart of England Mencap was awarded £14,200 as part of the scheme to create the new Cyc-Ability sessions.
This money will enable them to offer fully accredited cycling sessions for people within the community who have either a disability or health issues.
The funding will be used to purchase four fully adapted trikes, meaning Heart of England Mencap can increase their capacity at the Stratford Cyc-Ability centre and to also explore the possibility of introducing sessions at Warwick’s St Nicholas Park.
The project aims to provide the cyclists with skills and confidence so that they can use a mode of transport that has minimal carbon emissions.
WCC environment spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms said: “This is a fantastic project proving that disability and health issues need not be a barrier to making the important modal switch from motorised vehicles to pedal power.
“Choosing active travel – whether that be walking, cycling or scooting – particularly for short journeys is one of the biggest impacts that we can have on our own carbon footprints and the amount of air pollution that we are responsible for.”
Kate Buttrick, health and wellbeing manager at Heart of England Mencap , welcomed the cash boost.
She said “People join our sessions for many reasons – gaining confidence, meeting new people and gaining strength to name just a few – but we certainly all have one thing in common and that’s our love of cycling and being outdoors.
“These accessible sessions are also a great way to help educate people in ways we can all do our bit to help the environment and to reduce our carbon footprint – whilst having fun along the way.”
Click here for more information about Cyc-Ability from Heart of England Mencap.
