A GALASHIELS social enterprise has been successful in accessing £7,480 from the Scottish Borders Community Cycling Fund.
The Scottish Borders Council fund, which has £125,000 available in total, aims to create a lasting benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which are taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in August, including the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders.
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Hike & Bike Hub, based in Channel Street, Galashiels, will use the funding received to provide regular free bike hire sessions, highlighting the benefits of cycling for leisure and travel and promoting and raising awareness of the upcoming Championships.
The funded sessions will run twice a week prior to the Championships, from July 1 to August 6, and again from August 28 to October 1 to capitalise on post-event interest and enthusiasm in cycling. Standard bikes, e-bikes and an adapted trike will be available to hire.
Angela Crow from Hike & Bike Hub said: “We are delighted to have been successful with our application to the Scottish Borders Community Cycling Fund and can’t wait to help even more people get on a bike this summer.”
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Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “We have a great opportunity with the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships coming to the Scottish Borders this August to get more Borderers on bikes and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to support Hike & Bike Hub with their plans this summer.
“We’ve received a number of applications to the Community Cycling Fund since it opened in April and I look forward to us being able to support many more local projects over the coming months.”
The Scottish Borders Community Cycling Fund aims to support the delivery of local community cycling events and activities which encourage and inspire new and existing cyclists, reach and engage new audiences to participate in cycling activity, and encourage cycling within under-represented groups, including children and young people, girls and women.
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In addition, the fund can be used to connect and add value to existing cycling initiatives, programmes, events and infrastructure to promote and celebrate the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the power of the bike.
Grants of between £3,000 and £15,000 will be available to community groups, organisations and event businesses.
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