Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.    Relevant Background Information

 

         As the UK’s national cycling charity, CTC (Cyclists Touring Club Charitable Trust) works to protect and promote cycling to create a healthier, cleaner world.   In March 2010, the Parks and Leisure Committee approved the provision of office space for a Cycling Development Officer, funded by CTC and agreed to provide in-kind support for a Cycling Development Officer.  The purpose of the partnership was to introduce people to leisure and utility cycling for the associated health, wellbeing and environmental benefits and use cycling to engage disadvantaged, hard to reach and under-represented groups.

 

         Since then, the partnership has delivered the following:

 

·        Over 4,000 young people engaged in Belfast through Bike Club, a community focused project called Bike Club (target beneficiary range 10 – 20 years) in partnership with the ASDA Foundation and the youth charity organizations UK Youth and ContinYou.

·        Worked with over 30 groups, including West Belfast Area Youth Project; Glencairn Youth Initiative; Challenge for Youth Bike Club; and Park School and Education Resource Centre

·        Demonstration of a delivery model proven to encourage more people to cycle within deprived areas and hard to reach groups across the city which has been adopted by other Councils in the region

·        Operated a small grants scheme £52,000 within Belfast City Council area which funded 26 Bike Clubs to buy bicycles and train staff.

·        60 Bike Club Leaders and Volunteers trained to run the 26 clubs.  The Bike Club Development Officer (BCDO) facilitated capacity building and cycle leader network. 

·        Created employment opportunities resulting in the first CTC National Standard and Mountain Biking trainers in N.Ireland

·        Direct and advisory support for a range of initiatives including annual Belfast Bike Week, programming support on Barnett’s Mountain Bike Trails, development of Active Communities cycling work programmes, delivery and legacy programmes for Giro d’Italia, specialist advice on the Belfast Cycle Hire scheme, development support for club and community cycle groups.

·        Development and delivery of Active Belfast active travel strategy and action plans.

·        400 young people engaged in the first 4 months of delivery by the Shankill Area Project and Glencairn Youth Initiative Bike Clubs, providing up to 15 hrs of mountain bike activities per week.

 

         The impact of these Bike Club initiatives include:

 

·        Increased learning opportunities for young people beyond school day

·        Increased levels of physical activity

·        Identification and creation of instructor/trainers to deliver road and mountain bike training to instructors locally

·        New partnerships created with training providers: Belfast Activity Centre and Tricycle

·        Bike Club and Leader network established

·        Promotion of cycling to school

 

         As one small example, one beneficiary reported that her son, who was in foster care, had Asperger’s syndrome.  She was anxious about him cycling around the city. However, once she knew he was training to do Bikeability, she was happy for him to continue. This led to him being confident enough to cycle independently from his foster home to regularly visit his mother.

 

         The Active Belfast project work delivered on 2 core themes: Active Travel and Active Workplaces.  The outputs from this work include:

 

·        178 staff trained at 3 large public sector employers to cycle on city roads using the national standards for cycle training, tackling real or perceived fears of cycling on city roads 

·        249 staff from 23 employers completed an online cycle challenge to encouraged to cycle for more journeys more often. 

·        72 employees received bike maintenance training to help them deal with basic repairs whilst commuting.

 

2.      Key Issues

 

         Given the impact and success of the project to date, CTC would like to continue the existing partnership with Belfast City Council until the end of March 2015.

 

         It is a key time to focus on the progression of cycling development in Belfast and a continued partnership would allow the Council to maximise the impact of a number of major cycling developments, namely:

·        Belfast’s annual bike week

·        Giro D’Italia Big Start 2014

·        Public Bike Hire scheme

·        Barnett’s and Mary Peter’s Mountain Bike Trails.

 

         Future developments

 

         There is potential to develop Community Cycle Clubs, which use cycling to tackle health, social and economic inequalities.  The community cycle clubs, improve access to bikes for those without, skills training, leader capacity building and pathways to employment. 

 

         In addition, the following objectives will be integrated into future work programmes:

·        Enhance existing Bike Clubs through continued development and wider community engagement.

·        Develop Bike Clubs as a community wide resource in Council Parks

·        Target the creation of Community Bike Clubs at Interface areas in Belfast

·        Develop pathways to employment for trained volunteers and leaders

·        Develop an inclusive cycling resource in Belfast Parks, serving people with limited mobility.

·        Provide access to bikes coaching and led rides for the public at Barnet’s and Mary Peter’s Mountain Biking Trails.

 

         Potential funding

 

         The funding for the Cycling Development Officer ends in May 2014. 

 

         It is anticipated that funding will be available under the Active Belfast Partnership and potentially Sport NI.  Similarly, the Giro D’Italia legacy programme is being developed by DCAL.  It is likely that this will include community engagement activities around the Belfast Cycle Hire scheme, e.g. on road cycle training to encourage active travel within the city centre.

 

         DRD has recently launched a Cycling Unit and there are plans to partner on active travel and active workplace revenue-based initiatives.

 

         Officers are actively pursuing a number of funding bids to continue the partnership arrangement and are currently engaged with Sport NI, OFMDFM and other agencies to secure funding for the next period.

 

3.      Resource Implications

 

         Financial

         Core costs for the Cycling Development Officer are £34,000, to be secured from external funding.  In-kind support from the Council will include: office space; access to computer and office equipment; and use of communications and promotional channels to disseminate information.

         Human Resources

         The Cycling Development Officer will be located within the Leisure Development Unit.

 

4.      Equality Implications

 

         No equality or good relations impacts have been identified.

 

5.      Recommendations

 

         Committee is asked to agree to the continuation of the partnership arrangements with CTC, subject to external funding being secured.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.