Reidvale Youth ‘n’ Action….CTC Youth Club of the Year! 08/05/2012

The post below was written by Paul McIlvenny, Youth Developement Worker for Reidvale Youth ‘n’ Action Bike Club (Glasgow) and sent to all the clubs contacts and partners to celebrate becoming the CTC Youth Club of the Year!

“Good News, East End Youth Project Reidvale Youth ‘n’ Action Project has been named UK Youth Club of the Year 2012 by Bike Club & CTC.

Staff, Volunteers, Young Volunteers and Young People have received this accolade from Bike Club UK and CTC, it is a fantastic award for all involved with the Project and especially its very popular bike club. 

The Bike Club has been in operation for over 18months and has engaged with over 200 new cyclists, delivered the Bikeability Cycle Training Scheme, developed a Bike it to School and Bike it to Work Programme, has trained over 10 local young volunteers to deliver sessions, delivers a Dr.Bike Session and trains young people to maintain their own bikes !

Victoria Leiper, Bike Club Development Officer had this to say and published an article on Youth Scotland’s Website :-Youth Development Worker Paul McIlvenny, along with staff and young volunteers at the Reidvale Centre have worked super hard over the last 18 months to establish the club and now deliver high quality cycle training and support to young people in the area who are keen to get into cycling.  This award recognises their hard work and commitment and is very well deserved! Congratulations to Paul and the rest of the team!  A group of young representatives from the club will be travelling down to Sheffield to receive their award at the  CTC Annual Dinner on Saturday 12th May. 

We would like to thank Victoria for all her support in helping us establish and develop our Bike Club project, and a Special Thank You to all our funders who helped in establishing and sustaining the funding to deliver sessions with the Bikes, which include Bike Club, Active East, Cashback for Communities, East End Housing Regeneration Forum, Glasgow City Council and to all the people involved well done, to all the young people involved and yet to be involved Get On Yer Bike !

We are looking forward to attending the Gala Annual Awards Dinner and AGM in Sheffield in May to receive our Award, a group including Staff, Volunteers, Young Volunteers and Young People will attend, whilst visiting two other youth projects and a fun reward day to Alton Towers on the way home will follow ! Pictures will appear on our website ! Make sure you have a look !”

Miliband gives boost to Bike Club 26/04/2012

MP David Miliband lent his support to the young people of SSB Bike Club in their quest to see improvements to the popular skatepark on the seafront at South Shields. Visiting the club at their base in town centre bike shop Conways Cycles, Mr Miliband met young people and chatted about their passion for BMX, which led to the formation of the club under the auspices of George Simpson, who runs Conways as a social enterprise for the benefit of local young people. Conways hosts regular events such as competition screenings, workshop nights and maintenance training with local schools, with Bike Club funding and support. SSB are also incredibly skilled riders, impressing Mr Miliband with an impromptu display of flatland skills outside the shop. (Oh, and check out their video at the bottom of this post.)

After a quick look round the shop, Mr Miliband promised to return with his kids to be fitted with their next bikes. He also asked about good local routes for families.

Outside he rode the shop’s restored Haro BMX, and though he looked confident, confessed to being worried about damaging the bike. (to be fair, I would be too, the paintwork and parts are stunning) SSB members shared their experiences of using the busy park, and the politics between the various groups of bikers, skaters and scooters who use it. An extension to the park would be welcome, and Mr. Miliband shared his thoughts of how to attract funding for its improvement.

Mr Miliband was curious about the origins of the group’s enigmatic name SSB, which stands simply for South Shields Based. “South Shields Based what?” asked the MP understandably. “South Shields Based anything.” came the reply. “Bikes, blades, boards, scooters, anything. We don’t discriminate.” Good answer. Wonder if that young person wants a job in politics?

BikeFest 2012….cycle league for young people in Glasgow! 25/04/2012

Glasgow’s first city wide race series for young people! Races to suit all ages and abilities….no experience required! 

Event 1: Saturday 28^th April 2012 at Ashgill Recreation Centre, Milton, Glasgow, 340-342 Ashgill Road, Milton. Glasgow.

On Saturday 28^th April BikeFest 2012 will officially launch at the Ashgill Recreation Centre (ARC) in Milton. Bike Fest is a youth cycle race league designed by young people for young people.  Introducing cycle racing in a fun and welcoming environment, the series includes five events across Glasgow starting in April and finishing at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in October.   Organised by young people from Bike Club (the national cycle development project for young people), Glasgow Life and Glasgow Community Safety Services, each event in the series will include additional activities for all the family to enjoy.  On Saturday you can….

• Take part in a series of races to suit all ages and abilities on the ARC’s trail circuit.
• Get your bike checked out by the Glasgow Bike Station’s Dr Bike
• Take part in BMX coaching with the Radworx team
• Get your face painted, listen to music and try out the ARC’s bouncy castle!
• Plus more!

The ARC is a community focused facility managed by Glasgow Community Safety Services.   The centre aims to prevent crime, tackle antisocial behaviour and promote community safety within the Canal Ward by providing young people and the community as a whole with a variety of sports and activities.  The Arc is an ideal place to launch BikeFest, ensuring young people who are both new and experienced cyclists have the chance to meet others from across the city while taking part in a fun, active and health promoting event. 

Bike Club Development Officer Victoria Leiper said: “this series is not about who wins or looses, it is about providing opportunities and experiences that many young people who live in an urban environment often miss out on. Glasgow has a wealth of urban mountain biking facilities catering for all abilities.  With the 2014 Commonwealth Games fast approaching, it is important to sign post young people to these opportunities as part of the games legacy.  The track at the ARC is the best place to launch this and we are all really excited about the BikeFest series in the coming months.”

 Events will take place on the following days and locations:

The Ashgill Recreation Centre – 28^th April

Cathkin Braes – 23^rd June

Alexandra Park – 28^th July

PollokPark– 25^th August

Closed Road Circuit, Sir Chris Hoy Vellodrome – date TBC

 Jake Lovatt, Cycling Development Officer for  Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow Life and its partners are committed to delivering opportunities for young people to enjoy cycling. The BikeFest series is key to delivering the outcomes of the City’s cycling strategy by giving young people the chance to access grassroots competition.”

People from all over the city are welcome to attend each event and take part in the many activities on offer this weekend. Check out the Bike Club Glasgow Facebook page for race times, categoies and updates here.  For more information about BikeFest and the national Bike Club project please contact Victoria Leiper, Bike Club Development Officer – Victoria.leiper@bikeclub.org.uk.

 For more information on the Ashgill Recreation Centre please contact Mark Leaning, Senior Youth Engagement Worker – markatthearc@btconnect.com  

 For information on the Glasgow Cycling Strategy please contact Jake Lovatt, Cycling Development Officer, Glasgow Life – jake.lovatt@glasgow.gov.uk

Highbrow cycling? Let me introduce Bicycle Ballet 19/04/2012

This year’s SO Festival in Skegness will feature an exciting and innovative Bicycle Ballet. The show will take place on June 29 and is described as ‘a spectacular dance performance on bicycles which explores the highs and lows of city cycling: the sheer joy of swerving downhill on a bike, the wind behind you and the sun on your face, tempered by the gritty reality of urban cycling – manoeuvring amongst traffic, pollution, theft and vandalism’.

I know what you’re thinking, that sounds great!

So how can you help? Well, the organisers are looking for 100 volunteers to take part in the event. You’ll need to have a bike, and of course you’ll need to be able to ride it. Bikeability training up to level 2 would be desirable but if you don’t have this we could organise this for you. Wearing a tutu is optional.

There are two possible roles for cyclists; The Chorus and The Mass. To be part of The Chorus you’d need to be available for six rehearsals of a few hours each. If you want to be part of The Mass, you’d simply need to be available the day before the show for a rehearsal and the day of the show of course.

For more information or to register your interest, speak to James Turner on 01507 613444 or email culture@e-lindsey.gov.uk.  More information is available at www.bicycleballet.co.uk

Cycling Legacy in Dalmarnock! 21/03/2012

The Dalmarnock Legacy Bike Club, one of the first Bike Club groups established in Glasgow, is set to enter a new and exciting phase in it’s development with the introduction of a dedicated cycle hub within a new Legacy Garden.  Situated on the door step of the 2014 Commonwealth Games site, the garden is just a stone throw away from the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.  To celebrate this and further promote cycling within the community, the Dalmarnock Center recently secured significant funding from Cycling Scotland to establish the cycle hub as a major part of the new community garden.  Work on the garden started recently and is already a hub of activity, proving popular with residents of all ages. The Dalmarnock Center plan to use the garden as a social, education and also health improving space, marketing it as a ‘Green Gym’ in partnership with Glasgow Life.  The cycle hub will add to this ethos and feature a welcoming environment for beginner and experienced cyclists alike.  With refreshments, maintenance workshops, cycle training and bike hire available within the garden as well as a bike powered vegetable delivery service for the community, the Legacy Bike Club has an exciting year ahead. 

Backbone: from learn to ride to Ride Leader! 21/03/2012

6 women from the Backbone learn to ride project are preparing to complete Cycling Scotland’s Ride Leader training in April.  With support from Glasgow Bike Station, the group have been meeting up on Saturdays to practice their leadership skills prior to the course.  I met up with them a few weeks ago at Glasgow Green for a leisurely bike ride to the  Riverside Transport Museum followed by lunch and a browse of the classic bicycle collection. From complete beginners to Ride Leaders, the Backbone group are a real inspiration!

Young Riders in Taunton 29/02/2012

CTC’s Bike Somerset has created a Bike Club for young people.

Taunton Bike Club offers a wide range of cycle activities for young people and their families.  The club aims to provide a wide range of fun sessions for all abilities which include road cycle skills, mountain biking, bmx, cyclocross, competitive cycling and family rides.

Taunton Bike Club is affiliated and approved by CTC and British Cycling and activities are supervised by qualified coaches/ ride leaders. The club’s website www.tauntonbikeclub.org.uk gives up to date information about the activities of the club including a calendar of events.

What are you waiting for? Join-up now!