Essex Cycle Grant CVST
Summer of Cycling
Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST) are an organisation who support the community through a wide range of services. The Summer of Cycling programme was a collaboration between CVST and Essex Pedal Power, to provide a series of events along the sunshine coast utilising Essex Cycle Grant funding.
The project engaged a wide range of participants including those from priority groups such as children and young people, residents living with a disability and/or a long term health conditions, as well as residents from lower socio-economic groups.
Active Essex played an important role in bringing together different groups and partners to establish a collaborative working approach. All working towards the goal to engage residents in cycling, they utilised assets that were already available.
The benefits of cycling were made more visible as a result of the Summer of Cycling project. The increasing profile of cycling in Walton particularly, created an interest that was not there previously. Connections were made between a local Walton councillor and the leader of Get Cycling group based in Holland on Sea, resulting in discussions about working together to lobby the local council in regards to the improvement of part of the 150 cycle route that runs from Walton to Holland on Sea.
Dr Bike sessions were delivered to residents wanting support in learning to ride a bike, and proved to be extremely popular, with all sessions very well attended. A broad range of cycles were repaired or serviced during these sessions. Some individuals attended these with unsafe bikes, such as bikes without working brakes, however, these were repaired.
One dad said that he was now going to buy a bike, so he can go on rides with his 2 boys, who have had their bikes fixed and can now confidently ride their bikes following a Learn to Ride session.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, in order to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Key trends
Level of participation based on time of day in relation to daylight hours
Moving forward
There has been an increase in cycling interest in Walton which could mean similar events
New Relationships
Essex Pedal Power and CVST working together benefitted the organisations and cycling as a whole
