Play on Pedals has helped more than 7000 youngsters in Glasgow learn how to ride a bike
A project which teaches youngsters how to ride a bike before starting school has hit a major milestone.
Glasgow-based Play on Pedals (PoP) announced this week that it has worked with more than 7,000 children since it was launched in 2014.
Organisers celebrated the landmark at a drop-in session in Govan earlier this month, saying it felt like Christmas had come early.
Polly Jarman, PoP development officer said: “We are delighted to have reached so many children with Play on Pedals."
She added: “We’ve worked really hard to deliver high quality training and to provide lots of fun opportunities for children to get involved, so we are over the moon to have achieved our dream.”
The group has run more than 230 community events since it was founded, with a total of 7,148 children learning how to ride with help from 364 PoP volunteers.
Grants have been given to 35 organisations to develop the project locally, while children from 182 nurseries and childcare establishments across Glasgow have been involved.
The group, a partnership project from Cycling UK, Cycling Scotland, The Glasgow Bike Station and Play Scotland, says riding a bike is an important life skill and can also help children’s physical and social development.
Cherie Morgan, charity and development officer at Play Scotland said: “Developing a playful and relaxed approach to engaging children with the bikes has been key to the success of this project.
“By enabling children to play and have fun on a range of bikes in their familiar nursery environment we have seen children go from balancing to pedaling in a matter of weeks.”
The project received an award of £232,000 in 2014 from the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Clara Govier, the lottery’s head of charities, said: “It is fantastic news to hear that Play on Pedals has not only reached but exceeded their target of reaching 7,000 children.
“Over 7,000 pre-school children in Glasgow have been taught how to ride a bike thanks to this project. As a result of funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery through the Dream Fund this dream has now become a reality.”
