Lottery funding has club in a spin over new bikes
The Arran High School mountain bike club has been able to purchase new bikes and cycling equipment after receiving a funding boost from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All Scotland.
The funds totalling £7,500 have been awarded for their latest project called New Wheels, which went towards purchasing new freeto-use bikes, which, after three years of gruelling work, were showing signs of irreparable wear.
Large club
The club has grown from a small after-school group to a large club that has extended from its simple genesis of having fun cycling off-road to an organisation with loftier ideals.
Now having a dedicated workshop with trained bicycle mechanics, the club offers cycling safety training to local primary schools, free maintenance and repairs to the community on their open days along with seasonal events such as building bicycles purchased for Christmas. They also have an arrangement with the local council recycling centre to collect unwanted bicycles which are then repaired and passed on to those that require them.
Technology teacher Robert McNeice, who runs the club, said: ‘We are very grateful for the continued support of the Big Lottery Fund and that of Chain Reaction Cycles. The funding has allowed us to replace our well-used and much-loved fleet of bikes and to continue to offer equity of access for all. The many experiences, coaching, skills training and residential weekends the children enjoy are enhanced by the support from Awards for All funding.
‘Riding bikes in all weathers in our amazing outdoor spaces gives our young people the opportunity to develop resilience and to redefine success. Encouraging our young people to be active is a key part of Arran High School’s approach to supporting health and wellbeing,’ he added.