Visiting Feversham Primary Academy last week, Bradford East MP, Imran Hussain, has praised the work done by the school in boosting pupils’ cycling proficiency through partnering with local cycling group, Capital of Cycling.

Under this partnership, Capital of Cycling, a Bradford-based community organisation who were formed in 2017 to promote cycling in Bradford, have been teaching pupils at Feversham Primary Academy about how to ride their bikes safely and how to carry out proper bike maintenance, and they have provided workshop access, helmets and spare parts to the school.

With high levels of deprivation in the communities local to Feversham Primary School that sees many disadvantaged pupils attend the school, Capital of Cycling have also donated dozens of free bikes to create an innovative ‘Bike Library’ that will allow children without bikes to borrow them over weekends to give them opportunities that they would not otherwise have.

To recognise and reward this work, Imran visited Feversham Primary Academy to present awards to Capital of Cycling for helping to teach crucial skills to pupils, encouraging them to adopt healthier and more active lifestyles, and for increasing their cycling confidence and proficiency.

Speaking on the awards presented to Capital of Cycling, Imran said:

“This is a fantastic initiative that demonstrates the power of grassroots action, and I want to thank all those at Capital of Cycling, as well as those at Feversham Primary and Bradford Moor PASS who brought them together, for creating a partnership that will continue to not only teach children vital cycling skills, but encourage them to adopt healthier, active lifestyles by getting out and about on their bikes.

“With many disadvantaged children from Bradford’s deprived inner cities also attending Feversham Primary Academy, I also want to commend Capital of Cycling for their incredible show of Bradford generosity by donating so many bikes to create Feversham’s ‘Bike Library’, and I know that this will be a well-used resource by children who would otherwise not have the same opportunities.

“Ultimately we need to be promoting more of these initiatives and more of these partnerships across the city to help create healthier, active communities and to tackle what are growing health inequalities across Bradford, and any organisation that tackles these problems head-on like Capital of Cycling and Bradford Moor PASS have my full support.”

Darren Reed, Project Officer at Capital of Cycling said:

“We’re very grateful to be working alongside people with the vision, passion and dedication to make a difference, and especially grateful to Haroon Dad for going the extra mile and repairing school bikes at weekends, as well as taking the time to write for our newsletter, speak to our funders and appear on a podcast with cycling organisations from around the UK.

“We hope we will continue to work with Feversham Primary and support young people in taking advantage of the many physical and mental well-being positives of cycling and together contribute to growing a culture of cycling and active travel in the city with reduced car use, and a more liveable and sustainable Bradford.”

Molana Fazal Dad, Teacher at Feversham Primary Academy said:

“Capital of Cycling have been amazing in teaching the kids at Feversham these core cycling and bike maintenance skills. With this experience and these skills, they’ve been encouraged to get out and about in cycling to and from school, as well as with their friends, and they’ll remember these valuable experiences for years to come.

“I also want to thank Imran Hussain MP for the continuous support that he’s always provided to community initiatives like these, and particularly for making time to come and visit us last week to recognise the work that Capital of Cycling have done and the impact that they have had with his awards for their Project Officers and Director.”