Led by NHS Nottingham City (former Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT), funded by Cycling England and implemented in association with Ridewise
'Getting more people to cycle more safely more often'

My name is Murat Basaran, I work for Ridewise Cycle Training Co, a social enterprise, to manage the Cycling for Health 'Pilot' Project on behalf of NHS Nottingham City.

The project has been set up to help provide opportunities for people in local communities and employees of the NHS Nottingham City (former Nottingham Primary Care Trust) to become more physically active and improve their levels of health through a free Cycle Training programme (See attached document below for more details).

Evidence shows that people who are physically active reduce their risk of developing major chronic illness like Chronic Heart Disease by 50% but at present only 17% of men & 13% of women nationally reach the recommended levels of physical activity. One of the main issues we have in the UK is the growing obesity problem amongst adults and children. According to Government statistics 2004, 60% of the UK's population is classed as overweight with over 20% being classed as clinically obese.

The good news is that it is never too late to establish a physically active lifestyle and reap the health benefits so introducing cycling as way to achieve this will help to fulfill many people's aspirations to become healthier and fitter for free!

Safer Cycling in Nottingham
One of the project's aims is to get more people cycling safely and to this end, we are encouraging people to take up training sessions. Whether you are a complete novice and want to learn how to ride a bike or if you just want to brush up and improve your cycle skills, we can help you become a much more confident and safer cyclist.

I recently got my level 3 certificate and from my own experience I've realised there's more to being a safe cyclist than just wearing the right gear. If, like me you are fairly confident cycling on main roads, negotiating roundabouts and filtering in lanes then believe me there is still a lot you can learn to make you much safer on the roads.

Instructors will guide you through a nationally accredited programme and you go at your own pace so there's no specific target to reach and if you want a certificate, you learn the main points of that level and you are assessed on your ability, so there's no formal undertaking or written work, so it couldn't be easier!!!

Free Cycling Lessons
Since the beginning of June 2008, Ridewise has been providing free cycling lessons to employees from the PCT and people in local communities including clients of partner organisations such as the YMCA Wellbeing Centre in Radford and Health Trainer teams including those based at the Pakistan Centre, The Broxtowe Partnership Trust and the PCT Linden House in Aspley site.

Benefits of cycling
Not only will people be exercising and getting fitter - for free, but they will be lowering the risk of chronic disease and improving their emotional health too.

Good for the Pocket and the environment - people will be saving money on motoring costs and helping reduce pollution - let's not forget that cycling is the least polluting way of travelling after walking and it doesn't contribute to transport emissions.

Setting up the Project
Through the collaborative work of Helen Ross - Public Health Development Manager at Nottingham City PCT and Gary Smerdon-White, Chair of Ridewise, the project was officially launched in November 2007.

Since then a huge amount of work has been done to ensure that my post was filled and funding was in place to start providing cycle training. My role has entailed creating and putting systems into place both for the various partners of the project and for Ridewise to incorporate the new client base for their instructors.

Sourcing and training partners from other projects including the Health Trainers, Physical Activity Advisors and Exercise Referral Instructors to deliver cycling sessions to individuals coming through the health referral route has also been a priority at this early stage.

What happens next?
Looking ahead, we are hoping to find ways to provide free use of bikes to participants for cycle lessons and discussions are currently taking place with local recycling bike schemes to take this forward.

Another opportunity we are looking into is the provision of off-road group cycle rides to ensure cycling continues to be accessible within local communities. Once again, research and discussions are taking place to create ways in which this can be managed and sustained once the project draws to a close.

The 'Cycling for Health' project, one of two specifically targeted pilot schemes funded for two years. The project is led by Helen Ross, Public Health Development Manager at Nottingham City PCT.

Photos from the Cycling for Health Project Stakeholder Launch at the John Carroll Leisure Centre, Radford, on 25 March 2009, and including Helen Ross and Murat Basaran of NHS Nottingham City and Nick Cavill of Cycling England and Cavill Associates

photos from the Cycling for Health Project Community Cycling Events, April to May 2009 in The Meadows, Aspley, Bilborough and Bulwell:

One result of the project has been to stimulate demand for good condition recycle bikes from people who are keen to cycle but who cannot afford to buy new bikes.

As a result an existing small-scale local bike recycling scheme run for some years by the Framework Housing Association has since early 2009 been greatly expanded to increase the supply of recycled bikes. It now has a new name 'The Bike Club'.

This expansion has been facilitated by funding from NHS Nottingham City.

Offers of unwanted bikes, and ideas to source the greatly increased numbers of such bikes now needed, will be very gratefully received by The Bike Club.

How you can help

• Recycle your bike - if you have a bike you no longer need and would like to see it go to a good home then look no further, contact me and I'll arrange for it to be collected and reused as part of the project
• Become a Cycle Buddy - if you are happy to ride along side someone on a regular commute or cycle journey to help build their confidence, please let me know.
• Become a cycling instructor. We are on the lookout for more cycle instructors and currently have funding to provide free training to get you through the nationally accredited CTC Cycle Instructor Course, so if you are at CTC level 3 and want to find out more, please get in touch.
• Sponsor forthcoming events, if your organisation would like to contribute to the project by donating prizes for events we hold throughout the year, please call me.

A recent article about the cycling for health project can be downloaded here.

For further information please contact Murat Basaran - Project Manager on: (0115) 942 1919 or (mobile) 07791 724548 or return this form:

Murat Basaran - Cycling for Health Project Manager for Nottingham City Primary Care Trust based at Ridewise, c/o Greater Nottingham Groundwork Trust, Denman Street East, Radford, Nottingham NG7 3GX.

Cycling for Health Project Community Cycling Events (2009):

Sat. 30 May: Harvey Hadden Sports Centre, Aspley/Bilborough, 11-3 p.m.  See below for downloadable leaflets and see photos above from some of these events.