Last chance for LA’s to access multi-million pound training fund

Local authorities are being encouraged to bid for extra funding to deliver more cycle training, with the deadline for applications just two weeks away.
Interest in the 2008/9 Local Authority Cycle Training Fund is high, and enquiries and bids are coming in to the Department for Transport at a steady rate. The deadline is 1st February.
Now in its second year, the scheme is open to all local highways authorities in England, apart from in London where a separate scheme exists.
The funding is intended to provide additional cycle training for children to Level 2 of the National Standard (across years 5, 6 and 7), with the grants supporting cycle training at a cost to up to £40 a head. This figure includes all aspects of delivery (such as Bikeability badges and certificates), but excludes staff and administration costs.
Individual project bids can range from £10,000 up to £250,000, with no upper limit set for tenders from partnerships. All bids are welcomed, but added weight will be given to applications from:
i) local authorities able to demonstrate that they can deliver the levels of training bid for;
ii) local authorities showing the most evidence of increasing their commitment to the national standard;
iii) local authorities undertaking Bikeability training (background on Bikeability is attached);
iv) local authorities who received grant in 2007-08 and are looking to increase their national standard cycle training above 2007/08 levels;
v) local authorities who show how their training complements other local and national cycling initiatives;
vi) local authorities able to demonstrate partnerships are in place, where necessary to deliver the training on time.

Phillip Darnton, Cycling England Chairman, said:
“This grant gives local authorities the opportunity to invest even further in cycling and provide a key life-skill for our children.
“Bikeability has already captured the imagination of children, parents and schools across England, and is a cornerstone of Cycling England’ efforts to get more children cycling, more safely, more often. We would urge all authorities to start the process as soon as possible, by completing the online application form.”
Pam Williams, Road Safety Officer at South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“As an authority that has embraced Bikeability from the outset, we applied for a grant last year and the extra funding has enabled us to really get behind Bikeability and deliver high standard training. Cycle training is part of our Cycle Strategy and makes a huge difference to the confidence and skills of those we teach, ensuring they understand the complexities of road traffic.. It also contributes to our safety, accessibility, travel, health and environment goals. We would encourage all local authorities to support Bikeability.”
Sarah Dewar, TravelWise Co-ordinator at the Merseyside TravelWise Team, is an example of a local authority which has chosen to deliver its training in partnership, to help it offer instruction to more children. She said:
“Bikeability and particularly the additional funding has helped us deliver twice the training we would be able to otherwise, meaning greater effectiveness of the programme overall and ultimately more children engaged with cycling.”

www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/cycling/bikeform.xls