Enable - Edition 8

2 Welcome to the latest edition of Enable – the newsletter for the national Wheels for All movement. EDITION 8 Cycling Projects is a national charity based in the North West. We have been delivering inclusive cycling initiatives in local communities since 1991. Our aim is to encourage health improvement, social inclusion and to provide adapted cycling for anyone with a disability or differing needs. Donate at Just Giving justgiving.com/cyclingprojects Like us on Facebook Cycling Projects Follow us on Twitter @CyclingProjects In this edition, we feature the innovative approaches we have taken to ensure people can still be active through and beyond the pandemic. This has truly been a challenging time for all of us, especially those in our community who are most vulnerable and depend on the support of others. We believe we have a duty of care to provide our services and be innovative in our approaches giving people of all abilities a reassurance to be active in their communities. We hope this edition highlights the positive impact that Wheels for All programmes are having on people, their friends and family and their communities on an almost daily basis. Please spread the work of Wheels for All and how it engages with everyone regardless of ability and in turn we will do our upmost to raise the profile of inclusive cycling opportunities. Ian Tierney - Chief Executive - Cycling Projects Cycling Projects is delighted to share news of a brand-new initiative to provide the long-term loan of an adapted cycle to a range of individuals living in the West Midlands. We are delivering this project in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority, with funding from the DfT as part of the Active Travel programme. The aim of this programme is to provide access to a suitable adapted cycle to enable individuals - who already have some prior cycling experience - to be able to weave cycling into their day to day lives using the adapted cycle that we are providing for them. We are supporting each participant to cycle from their own front door, and we will be helping them to identify destinations locally that can be accessed on their cycle and to plan safe and appropriate routes with them based on their own capabilities, experience and confidence. The first cohort of participants has now received their loan cycles, and some have already been clocking up quite a few hours or miles in their local area; one participant – Joel – has been doing a daily ‘superhero challenge’ and another – Chris – has already covered over 250 miles on the handcycle provided via the ‘Out on Your Loan’ programme; it’s great to see and hear all about their achievements and longer-term cycling goals! For more information, please contact Chris Watts Chris.Watts@cycling. org.uk Out on Your Loan Project