Shift FAQs

Shift will unleash the potential of cycling in communities by providing a range of support to organisations to achieve the following:

• increase the number of short everyday journeys undertaken by bike (e.g. commuting to work, shopping, going to the library, visiting friends and family, school run, going to appointments)
• encourage people to start or return to cycling
• teach them the skills to cycle confidently; or
• trial cycles as a transformational resource in the delivery of their business services

Any organisation (regardless of other funding they receive) that is currently delivering or intends to deliver activities which will support the aims of the programme can apply for a Shift grant.

A Shift grant can be used to fund the following activities/costs:

• Basic bike maintenance sessions
• Community events (in conjunction with other Shift activities)
• Cycle demo/try out sessions
• Dr Bike / "M" check sessions
• Essential cycling skills sessions
• Hire/Loan of cycles
• Knowledge sessions e.g. maps & route planning, riding in adverse conditions
• Purchase accessories for your organisation e.g. helmets, locks, panniers, lights, maps
• Security bike marking session
• Training staff/volunteers to be cycle ride leaders
• Training (other) for staff/volunteers
• 1:1/small group confidence or route orientation sessions

There is also an option to provide an activity not specified provided you can explain how it will contribute to the outcomes of Shift.

Shift is aimed at adults (age 17 years plus). Children can participate in Shift activities if they are accompanying an adult.

You can apply for a grant between £400-£1500 in value.

Please read our application guidance

Yes, organisations who are providing activities on a regular basis, as their main business or for their primary income, must have appropriate public liability insurance in place. Cycling UK cannot be held liable for, including but not limited to, incidents, accidents, harm, damages, additional costs or any consequences, whether direct or indirect, that have come about through participating as a partner to deliver the programme.

If an organisation does not have appropriate public liability insurance in place then they can include the cost of this within their Shift grant application.

We will let you know the outcome of your application within 3 weeks.

All activities need to be delivered by 31 March 2022.

The Grant Recipient will need to complete the following 2-point process.

For each activity, the Grant Recipient (or persons responsible for data collection) must enter the following details on the online Participant & Activity Record Form.

Participant Records:

• Date of attendance
• Type of activity e.g. Dr Bike, led ride
• Participant postcode (full 6- or 7-digit postcode wherever possible)
• Participant email address if they are happy to share it.

Activity Records:

• Date of activity
• Type of activity
• Number of participants

We ask for participant email addresses so that we can send evaluation surveys. These help us to understand and demonstrate the impact of our funding and continue to support activities. We will never share your participants’ details with other organisations or send commercial information without their permission. For more details, please see our privacy policy.

The survey will cover the following topics: how frequently did they cycle before and after participating in Shift activities, whether cycling makes them happier, what types of cycling they do and general demographics questions.

Organisations will be supported by our team of development officers to help them design their programme of activities and guide them through the delivery. They will provide toolkits and signpost organisations to training.

It costs £82 to affiliate your group to Cycling UK.  Further details and the benefits of affiliating can be found here.

Here are our Terms and Conditions