British Cycling And Rapha In Major Community Push
British Cycling and leading brand Rapha have announced a new partnership that will see the creation of the British Cycling City Academies Supported by Rapha Foundation, as both organisations aim to improve the gender balance, increase involvement from diverse ethnic communities and encourage greater engagement with young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
The programme will have two distinct phases – City Academy Hubs and City Academy Talent Centres.
For each Hub, British Cycling, through the support of the Rapha Foundation, will recruit a lead coach within the community, to ensure they are able to speak to the wants and needs of those involved, creating role models from both a rider and leader perspective, with the first two hubs to be in London Boroughs Hackney and Newham.
The second phase, the City Academy Clubs and Talent Centres will help to support those who wish to progress to professional participation in cycling via the British Cycling development pathway.
Brian Facer, British Cycling CEO, said: “The British Cycling City Academies project is a key part of our wider strategy to make cycling more inclusive, more diverse and more reflective of our society. Ensuring greater diversity is essential to the future of our sport and it is also the right thing to do from a societal perspective.
“I’m very excited to be partnering with Rapha, through the Rapha Foundation, on this project. By making our pathways into participation and competition more accessible we will be enabling more talented cyclists and potential champions of the future to shine, regardless of their background.
“We also believe that the City Academies can be real beacons within their communities, and that once the first cyclists start to come through into our development pathways it will soon create a virtuous circle and a positive legacy for the future.”
Simon Mottram, Founder and Chief Executive of Rapha and the Rapha Foundation, said: “As passionate cyclists, we firmly believe that cycling has the power to change lives and help make the world a better place. But for the true potential of pedal power to be realised, it must be accessible to all.
“As a brand with British roots, we’re proud to be able to support organisations here on home soil, which is why we are incredibly excited to be working with British Cycling through the Rapha Foundation, an organisation with a shared mission to better the sport and improve access and support for the next generation of racers.”
The announcement follows the publication of British Cycling’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy which sets out a long-term commitment to ensure the sport is truly reflective of Britain’s communities.
