Opening Up Cycling to Everyone: Our £65,000 Grant to Cyclopark Charity
Being active can have a huge impact on physical health, confidence and wellbeing, but for many people, opportunities to take part are not always accessible.
That is why the Kent Reliance Community Foundation is providing a £65,000 grant to Cyclopark Charity in Gravesend, helping it expand its adaptive cycling programme and give more people the opportunity to experience the benefits and enjoyment of cycling.
Cyclopark Charity is an independent, not-for-profit organisation operating the 49-acre Cyclopark venue on behalf of Kent County Council.
Its ambition is to create a vibrant community hub where everyone, regardless of age, ability or background, can access high-quality facilities and enjoy being active. All profits are reinvested into the park's facilities and charitable activities.
Alongside its wider cycling, fitness and play activities, Cyclopark provides more than 100 free activity places each week and runs targeted initiatives including Chair Fit & Chat classes for older people and those living with dementia, Movement Not Meds for low-income families, and discounted Cyclo4All adaptive cycling sessions for people with disabilities.
Our funding will enable Cyclopark to take its inclusive cycling provision to the next level.
The grant will support the appointment of an Inclusive Cycling Community Developer, who will increase the number of adaptive cycling sessions available and develop relationships with schools, charities and healthcare providers.
It will also help create a new adaptive cycling storage and welfare area and develop a wide introductory mountain bike trail suitable for adaptive bikes.
Together, these improvements will enable more people with disabilities, older adults, children and young people with excessive weight, and people with life-limiting illnesses to participate.
Jonathan Couch, Head of Grants, said: "Cyclopark is a great example of how the right facilities and support can remove barriers that might otherwise prevent someone from taking part. This grant isn't simply about providing more cycling sessions – it's about creating opportunities for people to be active, build confidence and feel included. We're really pleased to help Cyclopark make those opportunities available to even more people."
By investing in both people and facilities, the project has the potential to create benefits well beyond the period of the initial grant, increasing Cyclopark's capacity to provide inclusive cycling for the Kent community for years to come.
For more information about Cyclopark Charity and its work, visit the Cyclopark Charity website.