Cycling UK receives regional funding to support cycling in West Midlands

By Martin Hofschroer
Friday, 07 June 2024
A group of people are on a tarmac path next to a field. They are all on bikes and look ready to set off on a ride wearing hi vis jackets
We're delighted to announce funding from Transport for West Midlands to provide adult cycle training and cycle maintenance training as part of its Cycling for Everyone programme

Cycling for Everyone is a programme aimed at reducing inequalities and making cycling accessible to everyone in the West Midlands. The goals are to benefit people, increase access to active travel, and engage with the following priority audiences:

  • black and ethnic minority groups
  • disabled people
  • women
  • older adults  
  • unemployed individuals

As part of Cycling for Everyone, we'll work with delivery partners from local organisations to offer training sessions that provide free cycle skills, fix sessions and led rides to beginners or people who don’t cycle regularly.

We're seeking grant applications from prospective delivery partners to run these training and maintenance sessions between now and September 2024.  

Deliver programme events in one of the following wards

Organisations applying for a grant must be able to deliver programme events in one of the following wards:

Birmingham Coventry Solihull Dudley (Black Country)
Bordesley Green Foleshill Kingshurst and Fordbridge St Thomas’
Stockland Green Willenhall (Binley and Willenhall Ward) Shirley East (Green Hill) Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews
Small Heath Longford Smith’s Wood Brierley Hill
Gravelly Hill Lower Stoke Lyndon (Hobs Moat North, Ulverley East) Castle and Priory
Lozells Canley (Westwood Ward) Chelmsley Wood St James’s
Birchfield Henley Bickenhill (Northern Bickenhill) Brockmoor and Pensnett
Sandwell (Black Country) Walsall (Black Country) Wolverhampton (Black Country)
Langley Birchills Leamore Bilston East
Olbury Bently and Darlaston North Bilston South
St Paul’s Wilenhall South Bushbury South and Low Hill
West Bromwich Central Darlaston South Heath Town
Soho and Victoria St Matthew’s Ward St Peter’s
Greets Green and Lyng Blackenhall Ettingshall

These wards were selected by each Local Authority based on factors like the top 20% most deprived wards in the region, propensity to cycle, existing infrastructure, demographics, and physical inactivity levels.

Increase cycling skills and confidence in people

Andrew Cremin, our head of behaviour change and development (England), said: 

“We’re excited to be working with Transport for West Midlands to increase cycling skills and confidence in people from the region who don’t cycle at all or who aren’t regular cyclists. 

“Cycling UK behavioural change programmes have benefited more than 700,000 people over the past decade, including many from disadvantaged and minority groups. enabling them to live happier, healthier and greener lives through cycling.”

If you're an eligible organisation interested in becoming a delivery partner, get in touch via email and express your interest. We will reply with more details about how you can take part in the programme.