Inclusive cycling scheme in New Forest gets lottery cash
£380,000 is going to PedAll, to improve accessiblilty
A New Forest scheme, aiming to make cycling available of all ages and abilities, has been given £380,000 of National Lottery funding.
The money will help provide more guided rides for local disability groups and individuals with additional needs, as well as recruiting a new ride leader.
PedAll is run by the charity Friends of PedAll and the New Forest National Park Authority, and has over 50 dedicated volunteers operating from two sites - at Burley and Ashurst.
Over 30 schools, colleges, residential care homes and charitable organisations were supported by PedAll in 2023.
The community hub on the Ashurst Hospital site also has extra activities including a drop-in bike repair service, bike skills training for young people with additional needs, PedAll volunteer training, social and confidence building rides, alongside guided rides for the additional-needs community.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, means 250 weekly group ride courses will be run each year; along with 200 ‘open ride’ sessions per year supporting over 4,000 riders per year.
PedAll Project Manager Shelley Filby said:
"We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players this provides PedAll with some welcome financial stability as we increase our focus on additional funding opportunities for the future. We are recruiting a new Ride Leader to the team and can press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to local people with disabilities and their parents and carers.
"We know PedAll sessions have long-lasting positive impacts on our riders. A recent survey said that all parents and carers had seen a sense of enjoyment from the natural environment and wildlife amongst riders; 86% of riders said they were doing more exercise now than before; and 80% agreed with ‘I feel happy’ after engaging with PedAll."
New Forest National Park Authority Chair David Bence said:
"The New Forest National Park, with its relatively flat landscape and miles of gravel tracks, is the perfect place for people who may need a bit of help to get outside in nature.
"We have already seen through PedALL that cycling can change lives, with positive impacts on physical and mental health and giving people confidence to get out and explore. So it’s great that the project now has this financial backing to take it to the next stage."