We are pleased to launch our Women’s Fund on International Women’s Day. This fund will support Scottish Cycling clubs to grow their female membership and help address the gender disparity in cycling.
In October 2019 Scottish Cycling provided the Active Girls Fund to support clubs to increase the membership and retention of girls at their club. This new Women’s Fund targets membership and retention of over-18 females, to support adult clubs to become more female-friendly and provide relevant activities and support. Youth clubs may also apply to the fund to increase the number of female volunteers, for example coaches and ride leaders.
Clubs have the opportunity to bid for up to £1,000 and their project must meet one, or more, of the following objectives:
- Introduce the sport to women who are not currently participating or currently a member of a club
- Increase the number of women at the club
- Address barriers that prevent women from joining the club and/or participating in cycling
- Increase the number of female volunteers, coaches and leaders within the club
- Examples of potential projects
- Provide female ‘Come and Try’ sessions in different disciplines
- Organise a come and meet the club session, specifically targeting women
- Training or upskilling female coaches and/or leaders to increase the number of female volunteers and role models within the club
- Recruiting new female coaches or leaders and covering the costs of their training (including coaching courses and Ride/MTB leadership)
- Deliver women-only bike maintenance sessions
In 2020 we asked our community what actions clubs could take to increase female membership at their clubs. See the recommendations here for further ideas.
The deadline for applications to the fund is midnight on Sunday 4th April. Applications will be reviewed by a panel and clubs will be notified of the outcome by 30th April.
If you have any questions, please contact clubdevelopment@scottishcycling.org.uk
