British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of cycling in Great Britain, has re-opened its sustainable events fund, ‘Accelerate’, for a second round of support.
A total investment of £50,000 is available, almost doubling the support offered in the fund’s initial phase last year.
The fund, which (in an arguable twist of irony) is supported by Shell UK, is designed to help national event organisers and grassroots cycling clubs reduce the environmental footprint of cycling events across the country.
The funding aims to encourage a culture of environmental awareness and collective action within the cycling community. The second round is split into two parts: ‘Accelerate’ and ‘Club Innovation’.
The core Accelerate funding, up to £30,000, is available to event organisers for grants ranging from £750–£1,000. Prospective organisers must outline proposed elements of sustainability for their events, considering factors such as longevity and return on investment.
Organisers will also be able to access British Cycling’s Environmental Event Guide for further support.
For Club Innovation, up to £20,000 is available, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, primarily to help those with stretched funding and limited resources. Creativity and innovation are encouraged, with previous examples including tree planting, LED lighting, and electric travel.
Amy Gardner, Sport and Participation Director at British Cycling, said “Cycling can achieve huge things, and the marginal gains we create from simple, innovative practices can go a long way in the future of our sport.
“We are proud to continue and extend the Accelerate fund, with support from Shell UK, so that more clubs and organisations across the country can continue to implement sustainable practices.
“These initiatives not only help the environment, but they help ourselves in the process by reducing the waste we bring, take and leave at events, upskilling people in important areas of the sport and allowing us to enjoy our events even more.”
Parminder Kohli, Shell UK Country Chair, said “Once again, this partnership demonstrates the positive impact that cycling can have on people’s lives.
“We’ve always said, ours is a partnership rooted in action. Now through Shell UK’s continued funding, we’re helping British Cycling support even more brilliant initiatives. They are helping sporting events become as sustainable as they can be in the long term.”
- The fund has already supported initiatives such as Tameside Cycling Development Group installing LED lighting, leading to estimated savings and a reduction in CO2 per event.
- Dreigiau Coed Y Brenin, a mountain biking club in Snowdonia, utilised existing solar panels to power jet washers and harvest rainwater for its dedicated bike cleaning area.
- Additionally, Cycling Club Hackney switched from single-use plastic barrier tape to durable, reusable mesh barrier tape, which is predicted to save 90kg of plastic waste from landfill.
The club innovation application form is available to cycling clubs affiliated with British Cycling. National event organisers can apply by contacting Katie Spray at Katiespray[at]britishcycling.org.uk.
