The National Lottery Community Fund supports New Forest inclusive cycling charity
PUBLISHED ON: 12 MAY 2021The PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling charity has been awarded £297,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to continue helping people with additional needs to enjoy cycling in the National Park.
PEDALL, supported by the New Forest National Park Authority, provides opportunities for more people to improve their health and wellbeing by getting outside, becoming active and enjoying time in nature.
The charity aims to make cycling available to anyone, no matter what challenges they may face, using a range of specialist cycles including three and four-wheel bikes as well as tandem bikes.
Since 2017, when it received previous Lottery funding, PEDALL has provided over 7,500 rides to help people who wouldn’t have ordinarily been able to get out and cycle.
Tackling social isolation as well as mental and physical health, the PEDALL team is expanding its offer to welcome older people with dementia, as well as young people with mental, physical, and behavioural challenges. It’s also offering ‘confidence rides’ to help support people in the post COVID-19 recovery.
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and over the last year has awarded over half a billion pounds of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East & East at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: ‘We are delighted to award this funding for the PEDALL project, which will provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy cycling, to improve their physical wellbeing and confidence, all while enjoying their local green spaces.
‘Thanks to National Lottery players, projects such as this across the country are playing a vital role at the heart of their local communities and will continue to do so as we rebuild and reconnect with one another throughout this year.’
The PEDALL charity relies on community and business support to match the National Lottery funding and is looking for additional supporters to help deliver this popular community resource. There is a range of ways people can help, including sponsoring a bike, supporting an additional needs apprentice, and volunteering. You can contact PEDALL at www.pedall.org.uk.
Donna Neseyif, Project Manager at PEDALL, said: ‘The new funding we have received from The National Lottery Community Fund is a lifeline for the project. We are a charity and have managed to raise some funds. However, without the new funding we wouldn’t be able to deliver the number of rides or help the wide range of people we do with such varying needs. We are all about helping people improve their health and wellbeing and connect with nature. Cycling is the perfect way to do this.’
PEDALL operates from a base in Burley which has direct access onto the New Forest’s designated cycle tracks. It can also offer rides from other Forest locations and is hoping to establish another hub in the north of the Forest to provide easier access for riders from Portsmouth, Winchester and Southampton.
Originally called New Forest Inclusive Cycling, PEDALL was started in 2011 by the New Forest National Park Authority and New Forest District Council with a grant from Hampshire County Council’s Inspiring You fund.
The new National Lottery funding will enable the project to expand its operation, employ another ride leader and offer work experience and apprenticeships to young people with additional needs. To be able to support so many people, the project relies on a fantastic volunteer team who help on the rides as well as maintaining the unique bikes and manage the fundraising as Trustees of the charity.
PEDALL Project Board Chairman and National Park Authority member Patrick Heneghan said: ‘It’s more important than ever to support this project this year. COVID-19 has affected us all, some more than others, and it is vitally important we are here to cater for those in need of extra support.
‘We still have a long way to go to hit the match-funding monies to fully support this project over the next three years. So, if you or any local businesses are looking to get involved to help your local community, we would love to hear from you.’
The PEDALL team is delighted to be able to continue helping everyone to get out and cycle in nature. Rides are always led by qualified and experienced staff and volunteers, ensuring riders can focus on enjoying the surroundings and making new friends.
If you would like to get out cycling and need a little support, or if you can help fund the project, find out more information at www.pedall.org.uk.
You can also get in touch with the PEDALL team on info@pedall.org.uk or call 01590 646640.
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Notes to Editors:
About The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.
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About PEDALL
PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling is a health and wellbeing charity that helps everyone no matter what their need, to get out and cycle in the New Forest National Park amongst nature. All rides are led by qualified and experience staff and volunteers using an extensive range of specialist bikes on the permitted off-road cycle tracks.
PEDALL helps people improve their physical and mental health and tackle social isolation by enabling them to enjoy the freedom of cycling and reconnecting with nature.
PEDALL is run by the charity Friends of PEDALL and the New Forest National Park Authority, supported by the NHS, the charity SCARF and Colton Care. It is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Sport England and British Cycling.
About the New Forest National Park Authority
Protect – Enjoy – Prosper
The New Forest National Park Authority’s statutory purposes are to:
-Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park – Protect.
-Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities – Enjoy.
We also have a duty to:
Seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park – Prosper.
The New Forest National Park was designated in March 2005. Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free. Majestic woodlands, rare heathland and a spectacular coastline provide fabulous opportunities for quiet recreation, enjoyment and discovery.
Visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk to find out more.
Suzi Shilling, Communications Assistant
New Forest National Park Authority
Tel: 01590 646602
Email: suzi.shilling@newforestnpa.gov.uk
