Access Sport's BMX Legacy Programme
ACCESS SPORT’S BMX LEGACY PROGRAMME
SIR CHRIS HOY: “Access Sport’s BMX Legacy Programme is a proven way of reaching inner city kids who aren’t exercising and often can’t cycle at all, and inspiring them to get on a bike and get fit and enjoy all those other benefits.”
Please go to https://vimeo.com/188791968 to see a video about Access Sport’s BMX Legacy Programme.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BMX LEGACY PROGRAMME
Access Sport's BMX Legacy Programme is a multi-award winning programme that was launched in February 2011 to create a thriving youth cycling scene in London. The programme is achieving this by creating community clubs, new tracks, new coaches, new volunteers, new competitions and delivering directly to community partners such as schools, pupil referral units and disabled people's organisations.
We believe the programme has the potential to expand to new UK cities and put London on a path to become a world-leading youth cycling city.
WHY THE BMX LEGACY PROGRAMME EXISTS
The BMX Legacy Programme exists because we believe that cycling is a key life skill and a uniquely powerful sport that is not yet being harnessed to the best of its ability.
The huge, growing cost of inactivity and obesity means sports like cycling that can effectively engage inactive people are increasingly important.
However, in contrast to the "cycling boom" and large, growing investment in cycling infrastructure in recent years, Sport England's Active People Survey and TfL statistics show a long-term decline in youth, female, BME and disadvantaged participation in cycling.
THE UNIQUE SELLING POINT OF THE PROGRAMME
We believe that BMX has a unique role to play in achieving equality, diversity and inclusion in cycling.
BMX attracts young people to cycling for the thrill and its cool factor but it is suitable for all ages and abilities. BMX is a safe, fun, off-road form of cycling that is a fantastic tool to help people learn to ride a bike, to become more confident and to enjoy it, kick-starting a lifelong love of cycling that leads to cycling for sport, recreation and travel.
KEY PARTNERS OF THE BMX LEGACY PROGRAMME
Access Sport's BMX Legacy Programme has many valued and influential partners that help to make the programme a success, including:
...and many more including housing associations and London Borough Councils.
AWARDS RECEIVED BY THE BMX LEGACY PROGRAMME
- Winner BT Sport Industry Community Programme of the Year 2015
- Winner London Cycling Campaign Youth Champion of the Year 2014
- Winner PRO-ACTIVE London Project of the Year 2012
- Special recognition Beyond London 2012 Sport Relief Innovation Award 2013
- Winner London Youth Games Community Partner of the Year 2012
- Winner PRO-ACTIVE London Club of the Year and London Coach of the Year 2013
MORE ABOUT ACCESS SPORT
See www.accesssport.org.uk
Access Sport is a charity that enhances the life prospects of disadvantaged children by providing opportunities to experience and enjoy the power of sport.
We do this by building thriving community sports clubs, led by inspirational volunteers, in the most disadvantaged urban areas. These clubs then provide life-changing opportunities for local, vulnerable young people whilst creating a lasting, locally-owned community resource.
Our work supports young people aged 5-25, with a particular emphasis on under 18’s who are disabled, disadvantaged or excluded from society.
WHY WE DO IT
The number of children and young people engaged in sport in the UK today is in significant decline: since 2012, 365,000 less young people take part in regular sport; long-term lifestyle changes mean that children growing up now are 15% less aerobically fit than they were a generation ago; one third of UK children are now classified as overweight.
All too often it is the poorest communities, where sports facilities are often limited or non-existent, which are most affected. Here, inactivity when young can increasingly be linked to a cycle of poverty and unemployment in later life, as well as anti-social behaviour and crime.
By tackling inactivity in sport at local and grassroots level, Access Sport is working directly to combat rising levels of obesity amongst children and young people while unlocking profound benefits to society as a whole – economically, socially and environmentally.