We know cycling has significant benefits for people’s mental and physical health. According to a report commissioned by British Cycling as part of its cycling participation programme, the Cycle Nation Project, it lowers the risk of mortality from any cause, especially among those who do not currently cycle regularly. Cycling is also associated with lower levels of perceived stress and perceived higher quality of life. Increasing cycling by 25% of all journeys in the UK by 2050 could also have an economic benefit of over £42 billion, while boosting cycling by 3 km a day among individuals in urban centres could drive £17 billion in savings to the NHS over 20 years.

In light of all this, Cycling Minds CIC was incorporated in Hexham (Northumberland) in November 2021 by three locals with a love of cycling to get more people on bikes, especially those experiencing struggles in their lives such as poor mental health, special educational needs and social isolation. We provide our programme participants free access to an e-bike to take part in our Step On(e) guided ride programme led by trained ride leaders in a fun, sociable and nurturing environment.

From the beginning, Cycling Minds’ core social purpose, mission and how it fulfils this has been inspired by and informed through extensive talks with numerous local social and health care providers as well as other local charities and community initiatives, principally The Living Well Service (managing social prescribing for the 14 GP surgeries in West Northumberland).

They have been hugely enthusiastic about Cycling Minds because they have found there is a lack of options for them to signpost the people they serve to organisations offering sports-related activities, particularly sports that are non-competitive and outdoors. Cycling Minds helps fill this gap. By doing so, we form part of the social prescribing landscape in Northumberland and work with link workers to incorporate cycling into our participants person-centred care plans.

The key proven outcomes of our work are a heightened sense of social inclusion, greater self-confidence and an increased likelihood of continuing to cycle.

We were recently handed an award by Cycling UK for Most Inspiring Community Cycle Club in the UK for 2023, , thanks to our “outstanding contribution” and “for achieving great things” getting more people in our local community out on bikes.

Our work is volunteer led and your donation will help us continue to run our guided rides which have so far benefitted close to 100 people from all walks of life. Funds will be used to maintain our fleet of e-bikes and pay for storage for them.