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At º£½ÇÉçÇø we are privileged to work with many fantastic and innovative partners.

Cycling Scotland are funding our Change Cycle Employability programme through the . Ìý

º£½ÇÉçÇø:   WhyÌýhave you chosen to support º£½ÇÉçÇø? Ìý

Cycling Scotland: At Cycling Scotland our vision is a sustainable, inclusiveÌýand healthy Scotland where anyone, anywhere can enjoy all the benefits of cycling. Within our Cycling Friendly Communities programme, we support organisations across the country using cycling to break down barriers and bring people together in the community. º£½ÇÉçÇø are a fantastic example of this, an organisation working to make a positive life possible for people who have had adverse life experiences by introducing them to learning and development opportunities in the great Scottish outdoors. Bikes bring people together and can play a massive role in addressing some of the challenges that communities face, and through supporting organisations like º£½ÇÉçÇø we can reach many more people.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

VT:  HowÌýdo you think º£½ÇÉçÇø makes a difference?  Ìý

VT: We know that º£½ÇÉçÇø is making a difference by targeting some of the most vulnerable young people and adults across Scotland and providing them with personal development programmes.ÌýWe have seen in action how this helps individuals to acquire core life skills and the confidence necessary to start the journey through employment, training and/or education.ÌýOn the Change Cycle programme, participants are not only learning how to build a bike, but to maintain and care for it, to develop their social skills, and to work with others.ÌýThese skills are invaluable for their future development.ÌýImportantly, they get to keep the bike theyÌýbuild at the end of the course, giving them a mode of transportÌýwhichÌýthey can use to get to job interviews, college, or appointments. Ìý

VT:  Can you describe the importance of the relationship you have built with VT?Ìý

 CS: The Cycling Friendly Communities programme supports organisations across Scotland to take a leading role in increasing the number of people who cycle. Building relationships with community-based organisations such as º£½ÇÉçÇø is crucial to making sure we reach as many people as possible, through communities that are already formed and engaged. º£½ÇÉçÇø has excellent relationships with their community, and we can support this through providing funding for their hard work to continue. A great example ofÌýthe strength of our Cycling Friendly Communities programme, we chose º£½ÇÉçÇø to highlight as a case study in our latestÌý.Ìý

VT: How does º£½ÇÉçÇø help you fulfil your aims? Ìý

CS: As the nation’s cycling organisation, Cycling Scotland works with others to help create and deliver opportunities and an environment so anyone anywhere in Scotland can cycle easily and safely. Providing funding to º£½ÇÉçÇø through the Cycling Friendly Communities programme allows us to reach people who might otherwise miss out on the joy of cycling. Bikes have an important role to play in supporting our environment, our economy, ourÌýsocietyÌýand our health; and we aim to establish cycling as an accessible and practical travel option for people across Scotland.Ìý

VT:  WhatÌýare your reflections onÌýcoming to see º£½ÇÉçÇøÌýin action?Ìý

CS: We got the opportunity to seeÌýaÌýº£½ÇÉçÇøÌýprojectÌýin action,Ìývisiting one of theÌýChange CycleÌýgroupsÌýat Bike for Good in Glasgow.ÌýWe got a chance to talk to some participants, who told us about their progress and challenges, and how the staff had helped to guide them through obstacles and build their resilience. They told us about the impact that taking part in Change Cycle had had on their confidence and skills. It was truly inspiring to chat to these young people and hear about theirÌýplans for the future. This experience reinforcedÌýwhat we already knew;Ìýthat providing access to bikes and tackling inequalities is incredibly important and necessary work.Ìý