Sport Northern Ireland is looking to build a lasting legacy from its relationship with the Italian cycling race Giro d'Italia.
Last week, Northern Ireland organised a Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia event – a spin off of the famous race – which followed on from the region hosting the “Big Start” for Giro d'Italia 2014.
Ten grassroots community projects will share a total of £85,000 of funding as part of a strategy to improve opportunities for cycling in Northern Ireland.
Projects receiving funding include an initiative looking to get more women taking up road cycling, a group cycling programme targeting ‘hard to reach’ teenagers from marginalised communities and a programme promoting cycling-related activities to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Sport NI director of participation Nick Harkness said: “These ten projects are doing fantastic work. As well as enabling people across Northern Ireland to enjoy and engage in cycling, particularly underrepresented groups such as women and people with disabilities, they are also using use the sport to promote more cohesive and inclusive communities.”
“The tremendous success of last year’s Big Start, and the mounting excitement for this week’s Gran Fondo event demonstrate the huge interest in and enthusiasm for cycling in Northern Ireland.”
Giro d’Italia’s continuing relationship with Northern Ireland is similar to that shared between Tour de France and Yorkshire.
After hosting the Grand Depart in 2014, the English county hosted the first-ever Tour de Yorkshire this year, attracting
more than 1.2 million people to line the route.
The full list of the Northern Irish clubs and projects to receive legacy finding:• Altamuskin Cycling Club: “Altamuskin Exer-Cycling Club” – a project to provide a road cycling club with an emphasis on ladies’ cycling, to coach young people on essential cycling skills and knowledge and to provide a cycling exercise class during colder / winter months.
• Colin Glen Trust: “Trail Blazers” – a group cycling programme targeting ‘Hard to Reach’ teenagers from marginalised communities, based in areas of high social need from West Belfast, to get active in on and off road cycling.
• Dunloy Cycling Club: Spin bike programme, including winter programme to retain members and ladies-only events. Spin bikes used by cycling club and local community.
• Harps Cycling Club: “Cycling for all” – project encouraging women living the Cookstown area to become more active through cycling.
• mellowVELO Community Interest Company: “Madame mellowVELO Bicycle Project” – programme to promote cycling-related activities to improve mental health and wellbeing of women of all abilities, ages and backgrounds.
• Old Library Trust HLC: “Creggan goes Cycling Crazy” – project to increase participation in cycling across the Triax area by engaging local families in regular planned cycling activities and events, and by educating and training a younger generation of bike mechanics who will assist in the upkeep of the local communities bikes.
• St Matthew’s Cycling Club: “St Matthew’s Cycling Group” – new cycling project into the Short Strand community for females.
• Trail Demons Cycling Club – project to introduce over 60 new members, parents and volunteers to the sport of cycling while targeting young girls and ladies. The coach education programme will enhance the skills and knowledge of club instructors leading to capacity building and sustainability.
• Island Wheelers Cycling Club: project aims to give participants of all ages and abilities (including children, women, disabled persons, members of minority groups and older persons) the opportunity to learn and improve fundamental cycling skills and to enjoy keeping fit and healthy.
• Donaghmore District Community Association (Torrent Complex): “Torrent Cycle Pod” – a new all-inclusive intergenerational initiative which will contribute to personal health, fitness and well-being. Target groups will include women and girls, 50+ and minority groups.
