Matched funding grants of up to £15,000 are available for community cycling projects across England in conjunction with Crowdfunder.co.uk
British Cycling’s £15 million Places to Ride programme is one of a number of Crowdfunding grant programmes available at the moment.
Funding is available for (a) the improvement and (b) the development of new cycling facilities, equipment and activities across England. Projects should involve and benefit local communities in England and make a difference to places in which people cycle.
All Crowdfunding grant schemes tend to operate in the same way: applicants raise a certain amount of funding through a Crowdfunding campaign. The money raised is then matched by the funding organisation(s).
For the Places to Ride programme, British Cycling will match up to 50% of the money raised by community groups and sports clubs through Crowdfunder up to a maximum of £15,000. For example, if an organisation raises £10,000 through its Crowdfunding campaign, Places to Ride will contribute a further £5,000. Matched funding contributions can range from £1,000 up to £15,000. All crowdfunding activities should take place via the www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ crowdfunding platform. The Crowdfunder website has a useful introduction to crowdfunding for those who are unfamiliar with the concept.
Funding can be used for accessible cycling facilities and equipment that will that will increase participation, encouraging existing cyclist to cycle more and new cyclists to join in. The funding partners are particularly looking for projects that:
1. Encourage co-locations with other sports and community services - support projects that embrace efficiency and appeal to a broader range of participants through co-location with different sports or community facilities responding to local needs.
2. Encourage innovation - support projects that offer innovative solutions that respond to the needs of different consumers.
3. Promote cycling in under-represented groups - support projects which prioritise and innovate to create opportunities to engage people who are new to cycling, especially considering access for women and girls, young people and people with a disability and older people in the community, and
4. Promote volunteering - support projects which recognise the role and importance of volunteers for cycling in the community and that offer multiple opportunities to get involved.
Applicants/participants will be required to set up a crowdfunding campaign through the Crowdfunder platform. Each campaign should last 4 weeks. If the campaign’s funding target is reached in that time, the Places to Ride matched funding will be made available.
Applications to Crowdfunder may be made at any time – there is no application deadline.