Inclusive cycling centre geared up for success
Chris Boardman MBE officially opened, the Bradbury Cycling Centre, a new £750,000 national inclusive cycling centre at Seashell Trust in Stockport, Greater Manchester today. He was supported by young people from Seashell and key partners and organisations from the local area who will be supporting the centre.
The project has been made possible with thanks to grant funding support from the Bradbury Foundation and the Places to Ride programme, which is being delivered by British Cycling, Sport England, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
The new centre, which will be open year-round, offers children and young people from across the region an inclusive cycling offer, which aims to give them access to a bike suitable for their needs, the skills and confidence to use it, and somewhere local, safe and exciting to ride.
Sitting in the charity’s 30-acre campus the centre comprises a large floodlit Learn To Ride area leading to three graded off-road trails. The centre complements Seashell‘s existing community sports facilities which provide a range of inclusive community sport and activity camps and clubs for hundreds of children with special needs.
A wide range of opportunities will be available for local people to get involved, through leading rides, coaching or volunteering.
The Learn To Ride area was designed and built by Playscheme and the wider trails by leading bike track builders Clark and Kent.
Chris Boardman MBE said:
"Everyone should have the opportunity to get on a bike and take part in cycling. And if they don’t, then we need to do more to make cycling accessible to all.
"As both a cyclist and the chair of Sport England, I’m proud to be here today as part of the Uniting the Movement mission to break down the barriers that mean disabled children and adults are less active than other groups. The Bradbury Cycling Centre is a great example of what can be done when inclusion and meeting people where they are at, is prioritised."
Dominic Tinner, Relationships Director for the charity who conceived the project, said:
"The benefits of cycling are well detailed but children and young people with disabilities and their families struggle to find facilities that properly understand their particular needs. We hope the Bradbury Cycling Centre, with access to Seashell’s highly experienced staff, will become the ‘go-to’ venue for those looking for an introduction to cycling either as an individual or as a family group."
Kyle Evans, the former European BMX Champion and current Junior Academy BMX Coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team, and Stacey Fisher, Great Britain mountainbike rider, were on hand to test out the wider trails, demonstrate their skills to students and to give the facility the once-over.
Those wishing to receive information about opening times, how to book the facilities, cycling courses or volunteering should email active@seashelltrust.org.uk.
Seashell is a national charity supporting children and young adults with complex disabilities and additional communication needs from across the UK. They provide education and care, from 2 – 25 years, at our outstanding school and college and through our short breaks services.
