Inverness bicycle social enterprise Velocity seeks funding to set wheels in motion on flagship Cycle to Health initiative for those low in skills and confidence
A cycling-themed social enterprise is hoping to secure Inverness Common Good funding to boost bicycle use among those low in skills and confidence.
Velocity Café & Bicycle Workshop asked for a £10,700 grant award towards its flagship £41,200 Cycle to Health initiative.
The popular Crown organisation has enjoyed great success with the project over the last nine years, helping those who wish to cycle more but face barriers such as poor mental health, social isolation, low confidence, poverty or deprivation.
Officials have recommended that Highland Council’s city of Inverness area committee approves partial funding of £7,261, more than £3,000 less than Velocity requested.
If confirmed as recommended, the organisation will examine other ways of plugging that funding gap.
Velocity projects coordinator Ferga Perry said: “Of all the projects we run, this is the one that properly makes such a difference to people’s lives.
“It’s that sense of connecting with the community, feeling noticed, feeling you are really part of something, included.
“We see people who make those connections and then keep them going outside of the whole group.
“It is so good and important on so many levels - physical activity, social connection, the fact it reduces car use and gets people out of their houses - I feel very passionate about it.
“It’s our flagship project and really epitomises what we do.”
The social enterprise is hoping to run the Cycle to Health initiative from September 9 this year to March 31, 2025. The project has been running since 2015.
The application to the council: “The sessions will be delivered by staff skilled in engaging hard to reach people. The project will build confidence, improve individual’s mental and physical wellbeing and will foster a sense of community connection within the group.”
The plan is to offer 30 one-to-one sessions initially to ease the anxiety associated with joining a new group or starting a new activity and to explore people’s experience, concerns, barriers and cycling hopes.
There would be 10 tailored cycling skills training courses for small groups of participants and weekly small group sessions aimed at people whose ability to cycle for short everyday journeys is limited due to lack of cycling skills or confidence.
It states: “Some of these target vulnerable groups including RASASH, Inverness Centre for Mental Health Recovery, Highlands Immigrants and Refugees Association.”
Sessions would start at Velocity with a bowl of soup, with the process of eating together aimed at fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Volunteers will be trained as ride leaders for group rides and one-to-ones and two staff would work four days a week with 82 people during the project.
The application adds: “People will feel more confident on and off the bike. Their cycling skills, knowledge and confidence all improve.
“This makes them more likely to choose to cycle for short local journeys. People feel part of a community, supported and encouraged by each other and connected to Velocity.
“People’s mental health improves. Feelings of social isolation are reduced. Marginalised people access support to cycle who would not have done so through the course of their daily life.
“Demand for the project has increased with the cost of living crisis and increased concern about the environment.”
Velocity has already secured 50 per cent of the project funding for this project but needs a further 25 per cent match to draw down almost £27,000 from Scottish charity Paths for All.
The application added: “This grant is due to start in September 2024 so we have limited time to find this match funding.”
