A Brixton-based charity that helps Disabled people of all ages and abilities enjoy the benefits of cycling is going from strength to strength following a funding grant from Tesco.
Established in 2007, Wheels for Wellbeing has been awarded £1,000 in funding by Tesco as part of a scheme to support community groups across the UK.
Charities and community groups who work with young people were able to apply for support from the Tesco Bags of Help Community Grant scheme in association with community charity Groundwork, and Wheels for Wellbeing was one of the successful applicants.
The charity was set up to empower Disabled people to transform their physical and emotional wellbeing through inclusive cycling. Run by a team of trained cycling instructors and volunteers, each session offers a wide range of cycles, including tandems, trikes, handcycles, side-by-sides and recumbents.
Liz Bull-Domican, Wheels for Wellbeing’s Fundraising Officer, says:
“We’re so pleased to be able to deliver such a valuable inclusive cycling service. Demand for what we do is extremely high, with many participants commenting on the positive effect that cycling has on both their physical and mental wellbeing. Our activities also offer a break from routine and a chance to make new friends in the process.
“Before the pandemic, we were running five sessions across three locations every week, and with the help of generous donations – including the grant from Tesco – we look forward to getting back on track soon!”
In total, 1,995 groups were awarded grants of £1,965,500 by Tesco throughout the UK in 2020.
Keith Jackson, Tesco Community Grants Manager at Tesco, said: “Young people’s wellbeing has been hugely affected by the pandemic this year, and I think many of us are feeling the strain.
“We’re therefore very pleased to see so many charities and community groups helping support people’s wellbeing coming forward for funding, all of whom carry out vital work for people in the UK. We’re delighted to be able to provide much-needed boost for many of them, including Wheels for Wellbeing.”
One of the other groups in London to be awarded a grant is Community Cycleworks, a charity that runs build-a-bike courses, bike fix sessions and on road and mountain biking ride outs for young people in the area.
Alex Forrester Corporate Partnership Manager from Groundwork commented: “We have seen a wide variety of groups come forward for funding, including outdoor activities, mental health charities, young carers, bereavement counselling, and charities working with vulnerable children.
“We see day to day the incredible work these groups do, but also how much they need funding to operate, which is often hard to come by, so it is fantastic to work with Tesco to be able to give a little help to some of them.”
To donate to Wheels for Wellbeing https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1010797
