Cycling for All

Aim: We aim to provide cycling to our BME community and reduce barriers which discourage disadvantaged group from enjoying cycling in Manchester.

Who are we?

Since its inception in the year 2000, Manchester Sudanese Tree Development Community (MSTDC) is an environmental charity organisation and has over 15 years’ experience of community support, providing informal drop-in facilities and activities such as up-skilling and health awareness  to  BME communities at our office in Ardwick.  Our Centre at St Luke’s Church is specifically set up to continue and develop further drop-in on week-ends during our supplementary school hours.

Why are we Crowdfunding?

The socio-economic status of our community has been demonstrated by major factor in the inclusion in, and exclusion from, regular and higher levels of sport participation. As BME community they are disadvantaged stemming from long-term unemployment, low income, poor living conditions and poor health, which act as material constraints on exercise and sports participation. Our monthly community consultations that we conducted in our community centre, obesity was the main concern raised due to lack of exercise. 85% expressed the pandemic had affected their ability to access exercise in walking, cycling, drumming and swimming. In cycling, they pointed the main overall barriers to exercise with cycling as: Safety concerns associated with traffic and crime, the lack of facilities for cyclists and poor weather, including the cost of a bike as a significant barrier to cycling due to low income and therefore excluded from participation by poverty. There is poor awareness of local walking and cycling routes amongst those who rarely walk, cycle or travel outside their immediate area. This make residents in our deprived areas not understand that cycling can improve health and fitness. They have little understanding of ‘active travel’, its benefits and how it might work for them. No Role Models to raise awareness and encourage community participation. Low rates of participation can be self perpetuating – as cycle clubs have few BME members, potential new members may instead turn to other sports clubs with a higher BME presence (e.g. football).

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How we’ll spend the money?

Refreshments: £147

Promotion/Publicity: £325

Hire of Facilities: £144

Equipment hire/Purchases: £2,992

Coaches Fees/Expenses: £3,680

Amount requested from crowdfunding: £7,288

Community Impact

• They will have fun seeing and listening to different kinds of birds songs and pick berries while on short break riding and isolation is reduced. By exercising the body muscles, health is improved and depression is kept at bay.
• Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than other forms of exercise.
• A good muscle workout– pedalling uses all of the major muscle groups. It also encourages members of different BME communities to come together in order to increase knowledge, improve engagement with public services and work with the police on crime reduction. 
• Regular physical activity helps protect one from serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis but also help one tackle obesity. The Cycling for All is available for all those who don’t have their own, and the rides aim to help them to explore the wealth of cycle routes available locally.
• Riding a bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
• The participants will learn a skill that may lead to self employment (examples: Uber deliveries)

Funding method

All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £7,288 by 24th September 2025 at 7:24pm