Eastlands Velo Offers Kids a Helping Hand...or Two!

 

News Posted: 8 Dec 2008

Manchester Velodrome-based cycling club Eastlands Velo has launched two new projects to encourage local kids to get involved with cycling.

The first project allows local children new to cycling to share Velodrome track sessions with Eastlands Velo members. The second allows local kids to have a go at Eastlands Velo's road and time trial racing sessions held in the car parks at Manchester Velodrome.

Both projects needed financial support for equipment and track hire and, if successful, would help local children to make new friends, get fit and have fun at the same time, whilst also continuing the development of the cycling club.

For the first project Eastlands Velo was helped by Sarah Whitelegg, a development worker from Novas Scarman, to apply for a joint funded grant from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) and The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester.

This resulted in a grant of £9,600 to pay for track time for club riders to share with children from the 10 local authorities of Greater Manchester over a two year period.

For the second project, the club applied to the Youth Capital Fund for cycling equipment. This fund is run by children and had to be applied for by a child with the help and support of an adult on behalf of our club.

This resulted in a grant of £8,496.35 to purchase bikes and equipment for club riders to use and to allow local kids to take part in road sessions at the velodrome.

John Daly, from the club, said "Eastlands is very happy with these two grants and they will allow our club to develop and attract new local kids giving them a healthier lifestyle and a better social interaction in a safe and secure environment of the Manchester Velodrome, whom we would also like to thank for their support."

 

Club website - www.eastlandsvelo.com