Inclusive sports charity puts cycling plans into gear with help from National Lottery funding

A disability sports charity, based in Hertfordshire, is celebrating after receiving funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide daily adapted cycling sessions.

Herts Disability Sports Foundation has received £10,000 to increase its group cycling sessions to seven days a week, up from just one day currently, as well as launch a ‘bike library’ and storage facility that will allow individuals and carers to hire the right adapted bike to suit their needs.

The cycling sessions, which take place at Stanborough park in Welwyn Garden City, were launched in response to a lack of inclusive cycling in Hertfordshire and have recently seen a huge increase in demand since the end of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Herts Disability Sports Foundation provides a range of sports and fitness sessions for people with disabilities at facilities across Hertfordshire, with activities including archery, wheelchair basketball, boccia and dance, and is now hoping to be the go-to place for inclusive cycling in the county.

It currently caters for 30 adults with disabilities during its Tuesday sessions, but now hopes to welcome as much as 120 each week to its extended programme with the help of the funding.

Ros Cramp, Charity Operations Manager at Herts Disability Sports Foundation, said: “When it comes to cycling, it was soon clear that many adults with disabilities miss out on an activity that most of us take for granted. Many of our riders had tried to ride a bike when they were younger, but had been put off by a negative experience. Some participants just beamed when first riding an adapted bike, with some saying it had been 40 years since they had been on a bike and that they felt free for the first time in years.

“It is now our dream is to have a fully accessible cycling centre based at Stanborough Park, which will enable groups, families and individuals to use a bike that is appropriate for them, using the accessible paths around the lakes.”

The Foundation is also looking to extend its community outreach work with the help of the National Lottery funding, which has previously seen it run Paralympic Roadshows during the Paralympic Games, taking wheelchair basketball, boccia and a range of sensory impairment activities into local primary schools.While most of the group’s activities are recreational,

Rosalind has already identified a number of potential future Paralympians within her ranks. As part of identifying and developing talent, many of its current team members were children who previously participated in sessions and have since trained to become role models and instructors to others.

It has also provided opportunities for people in other areas of sport, with one of its previous participants competing in the Commonwealth Games before moving into sports media, where she recently worked with Channel 4 on its Paralympics coverage.

However, providing access for all is Ros’ main focus. She said: “While talent spotting is very exciting, we believe that every individual has the opportunity to access activities at a level that is appropriate for them, and the smallest improvement that has been worked hard for means just as much to us.”

Across the East of England, almost £6.3 million was awarded to community projects and charities over the last three months*, with a grand total of almost £65 million awarded to over 1,700 community groups across England.

Other organisations in Hertfordshire to receive National Lottery grants included Music for my Mind in St. Albans, which received £10,000 to engage with 1,000 families affected by dementia through a personalised music app, and Signpost in Watford, which also received £10,000 to deliver counselling sessions for young people aged 10-25 living with poor mental health.

Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “This vital funding is having a significant impact on people’s lives and, in the case of Herts Disability Sports Foundation, providing greater access to sport and interaction for people living with a range of disabilities.

“It’s so inspiring to see dedicated volunteers and groups supporting their communities to prosper and thrive. Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding has given a much-needed cash boost to communities, so they can build back stronger from the pandemic.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Thanks to National Lottery players, last year we awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk