Communities across Scotland are to be given the chance to celebrate the transformative power of the bike thanks to the launch of a £1million fund to support sustainable cycling projects and events.
The £1million Community Cycling Fund, which is being delivered in partnership between sportscotland, EventScotland and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will help support and deliver community cycling projects and events over the next two years. It has been developed with the aim of creating a national celebration of cycling across all of Scotland’s 32 Local Authority areas, in the build up to the Championships, and to create a lasting benefit post event.
The investment is part of a campaign to focus on the benefits of cycling in 2023 as Glasgow and Scotland gear up to host the biggest cycling event ever staged anywhere in the world by engaging new audiences to participate in organised and inclusive cycling activity and events. It will engage local communities by creating a platform to encourage cycling with a focus on underrepresented groups as well as adding value to existing cycling initiatives, programmes, events and infrastructure.
Culture Minister Angus Robertson, who chairs the Scottish Government’s 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Cabinet Group said: “We welcome the £1 million Community Cycling Fund as it recognises the importance the Scottish Government places on encouraging people across Scotland, especially those in under-represented groups, to take part in cycling activities and events.
“The forthcoming 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will celebrate many aspects of this sport, but the benefits of this event will last much longer. Cycling is good for our health and well-being and that of the planet.
“I would encourage communities up and down the country to take advantage of this two-year fund to set up projects that will inspire more people to enjoy the Power of the Bike.”
The Community Cycling Fund is initially a two-year programme funded by sportscotland and EventScotland and is made up of two separate funding opportunities with investment awarded separately. The first opportunity – the Development Strand – will be administered by sportscotland with up to £350,000 per year invested direct to Local Authorities. The second opportunity – the Events strand – will be administered by EventScotland who will award up to £160,000 per year for events and festivals through an open fund.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “It is crucial that we use this celebration of cycling as a catalyst to sustain the sport in local communities across the country, whether that be in community sport hubs, clubs or through individual activity.
"The eyes of the world will be on Glasgow and across Scotland in 2023 and we want to use that opportunity to encourage more people to enjoy the benefits of cycling. The Community Cycling Fund will help us do that.”
EventScotland is currently accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Events strand, with applicants able to apply for awards between £5,000 and £15,000 for events taking place from the 1 August 2022 to the 31 March 2023. The EOI form is available to download from www.visitscotland.org/events/funding/community-cycling-fund and must be submitted by 5pm, Monday 20 June 2022.
Activity eligible for support though the Events strand includes enhancing existing events with new cycling opportunities that promote the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships; cycling innovations which develop, enhance, or grow cycling participation and/or the event; activity and events which provide local communities the opportunity to celebrate the power of the bike and take part in cycling; and costs supporting sustainable practices as part of a wider event
Robbie Clyde, Head of EventScotland, said: “Events are more than just great entertainment, they are an opportunity to bring wider societal benefits by helping build a sense of pride while also making a valuable contribution towards our health and wellbeing.
“The Community Cycling Fund will offer everyone the chance to experience the joy riding a bike can bring to their everyday lives in a fun and safe environment while also creating a lasting benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will create sporting history in August 2023 with 13 existing UCI Cycling World Championships brought together for the first time to create one mega-event. With more than 2,600 athletes competing from around 120 countries, an expected one million spectators and more than one billion viewers worldwide, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be one of the top 10 sporting events on the planet.
The announcement comes following significant investment in cycling initiatives in Scotland including the innovative Transport Scotland free bikes for children programme, the £8million sportscotland Cycling Facilities Fund and a tripling of Scotland’s active travel investment helping deliver on Scotland’s ambition to create a cycling nation through a One Team Scotland approach across a range of policy areas including transport, health, sport, events and tourism.
Find out more
About how to express interest in the events strand of the Community Cycling Fund
All the information you need to know about the UCI Cycling World Championships
How to get involved in cycling in Scotland with Scottish Cycling
