Helping mental health service users take up cycling
Bristol based cycling charity Life Cycle UK have launched an exciting new pilot project that aims to make cycling and getting out into nature more accessible to people affected by mental health issues.
The project, called Bike Minded, is one of around 125 new and existing projects in England supported by the Ecominds grants programme, which is run by the national mental health charity Mind with funding from the Big Lottery Fund.
The Ecominds projects aim to help people with experience of mental distress get involved in local environmental projects that improve mental and physical health.
Bike Minded will give mental health service users the opportunity to learn new skills recycling unwanted bikes, earn a bike for their own use, get one-to-one cycle training to help build their confidence to cycle, take part in sociable healthy bike rides with others and get out into the countryside.
For those who are interested, there will also be opportunities to learn vocational skills by volunteering to support the project in a variety of ways and taking part in work placements in Life Cycle’s bike recycling workshop.
Bike-Minded Co-ordinator, Sarah Thorne, explains, “Life Cycle UK aims to help all sections of the community to take up cycling, and this is a great opportunity for people affected by mental health issues to get support to do this. Getting regular exercise and access to the natural environment have so many positive effects on our physical, emotional and mental well-being, and I know that this project has huge potential to make a difference to people’s lives”.
For further information contact:
Sarah Thorne, Bike Minded Project Officer
Tel 0117 353 4580
