Community Projects
CYCLING PROJECTS
We love cycling!
So, we’re keen to help people discover the benefits and make cycling more accessible for all members of the community.
Cycling is great for health, well-being, the economy, communities, and the environment.
We’re working in partnership with local businesses, councils, and charities to deliver free and low-cost workshops and courses that help people develop skills and confidence. We aim to help people access the information, support, and resources that will help them to cycle more often – for social and leisure purposes, and for everyday travel.
BICI EVENTS WINTER PROGRAMME 2023/2024
We’re delighted to have secured further funding from Cycling UK to deliver a range of FREE cycling events at Macknade this winter.
The events support our community cycling initiative, “Bici”, aimed at helping local people rediscover the fun and freedom of cycling – and the numerous other benefits that cycling has for individual and community health, the economy, and the environment.
Limited spaces are available, so secure your place on these events, delivered as part of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival initiative.
SATURday, 2nd DEC, 10 am - 12
This practical 2-hour ‘Learn to Love Your Bike!’ session will teach you how to fix a puncture – giving you the confidence to ride your bike further / more often.
No previous experience of fixing bikes is necessary – just bring a bike to work on and all equipment will be provided in this friendly, small group session. You’re also welcome to bring your bike maintenance questions, too!
Saturday, 16th DEC, 10 am - 12
The ‘Faversham Festive Cycle Ride’ is an opportunity to join a small, supportive group for an hour’s leisurely ride that explores the lovely lanes and countryside south of Faversham.
This social ride is aimed at novice and returning riders. A roadworthy bike and basic bike handling skills are all you need! On our return to Macknade, there will be complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake.
saturday, 6th jan, 10 am - 12
The ‘Faversham New Year Cycle Ride’ is an opportunity to join a small, supportive group for a leisurely hour-long ride that explores the lovely lanes and countryside south of Faversham.
This social ride is aimed at novice and returning riders. A roadworthy bike and basic bike handling skills are all you need! On our return to Macknade, there will be complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake.
Sat, 20th jan, 10 am - 12
‘Learn to Love Cycling!’ will have you falling in love with cycling all over again!
You’ll have the opportunity to practice your bike handling skills and learn how to cycle on roads – so you can feel more confident and enjoy riding your bike more often.
On our return to Macknade, there will be complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake.
saturday, 27th JAN, 10 am - 12
This practical 2-hour ‘Learn to Love Your Bike!’ session will teach you how to fix a puncture – giving you the confidence to ride your bike further / more often.
No previous experience of fixing bikes is necessary – just bring a bike to work on, and all equipment will be provided in this friendly, small-group session. You’re also welcome to bring your bike maintenance questions, too!
saturday, 3rd feb, 10 am - 12
This practical 2-hour ‘Learn to Love your Bike!’ session will teach you how to fix common problems with your brakes or gears – giving you the confidence to ride your bike further / more often.
No previous experience of fixing bikes is necessary – just bring a bike to work on and all equipment will be provided in this friendly, small group session.
Big Bike Revival events are events and workshops that are funded by the Department for Transport and run in collaboration with Cycling UK.
The events help get more people cycling by providing free basic services to repair broken bikes, cycle skills sessions to help people build confidence, and led cycle rides to encourage more active travel.
Supporting Cycling and Active Travel in Faversham
Faversham is one of Kent’s most ambitious towns when it comes to getting more people cycling.
It has adopted a 20 mph speed limit across the town and has plans to improve the infrastructure to make it easier for people to walk, cycle, and scoot.
We’re supporting Faversham Town Council, Swale Borough Council, and Kent County Council in their ambition to make Faversham a cycling town by providing training, rides, and events, and developing our community cycling project, ‘Bici’ at Macknade.
"bici" at Macknade
We’ve been working in partnership with Macknade since 2022 to deliver cycling events that bring bikes and cycling activities to people living in and around Faversham. We’ve been delighted to have been able to secure grant funding from national charity, Cycling UK, to deliver Big Bike Revival events in 2022 and 2023. Working together with our local partners, we’ve delivered a range of free bike fixing workshops, cycling lessons and led rides for adults, and organised electric bike events that enable people to find out more about e-bikes and to experience the fun and freedom that cycling delivers.
Faversham CYCLEFEST
CYCLING IN SWALE
We’ve been working in partnership with Sittingbourne-based charity, New Leaf Support, to provide cycling skills training, social cycle rides, bikes and cycling essentials, to survivors of domestic abuse.
Our sessions are designed to promote health and wellbeing and help people experience the fun and freedom cycling can bring.
Our projects have been kindly supported by Kent County Council, Swale Borough Council, British Cycling, and Cycling UK through their Big Bike Revival initiative.
TREESERVE 365
Through our 365-day tree-planting challenge, launched at Earth Hour on 25th March 2023, we’re helping people:
Plant as many trees as possible in 365 days
Plant responsibly
Become educated about trees, reforestation, and biodiversity
Take action on the climate crisis
Inspire and educate others
Connect with nature, self, and others
You can join Co-Founder, Amel Sedoui, me, and the Treeserve 365 community at one of our monthly meetings, through our social media channels, or through our newsletter.
PAST BICI EVENTS – SUMMER 2023
We were delighted to deliver more FREE cycling events at Macknade through our community cycling initiative, “Bici”.
These events were funded by Cycling UK and delivered as part of their Big Bike Revival initiative.
Friday, 1st Sept, 6 - 8 pm
During this 2-hour ‘Learn to Love Your Bike!’ session we’ll cover the basics of how to clean and care for your bike on a day to day basis. No previous experience is necessary – just bring a bike to work on and all equipment will be provided in this friendly, small group session. Participants will receive a FREE, quality bike gift, and there will be complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake for all attendees.
Saturday, 9th Sept, 9.30 - 12.30
Come and find out more about e-bikes and get FREE advice on what to consider during this ‘Learn to Love E-Bikes!’ event. We’re working with local company Cyclechic to bring you a selection of regular e-bikes and e-cargo bikes to see and try. Book a trial ride in advance, and we’ll accompany you on a quick spin around the local lanes so you can really get a feel for e-bike riding. You’ll also receive a complimentary tea/coffee and piece of homemade cake.
Saturday, 23rd Sept, 10 am - 12
This Saturday morning ‘Learn to Love Cycling!’ session will have you falling in love with cycling all over again. You’ll have a chance to practice your bike handling skills before we go for a short, leisurely ride around the quiet lanes and roads of Faversham. Sign up to this event and you’ll also recieve a complimentary tea/coffee and piece of homemade cake on our return to Macknade.
Sunday, 24th Sept, 10 am - 12
This friendly ‘Love to Ride’ event is for residents of Faversham and the surrounding areas who would like to ride as part of a small, supportive group. We’ll take a leisurely ride from Macknade and explore the country lanes in the surrounding area before heading back to Macknade for complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake.
More Big Bike Revival EVENTS 2023
Come and join us for more FREE cycling events in Margate.
These events are hosted by Thanet District Council and are part of a series of cycling and health events this summer.
SUNDAY, 17th Sept, 10 - 12 pm
During this 2-hour ‘Bike Confidence’ session in Margate, we’ll cover essential bike handling basics, so you can relax and enjoy riding your bike. This friendly small group session will help you gain the skills you want and need to ride safely.
Sunday, 17th Sept, 1 - 3 pm
Join this leisurely, social, Sunday afternoon Bike Ride starts from Newgate Gap, Margate. This is a small group, led ride in a friendly and supportive environment – come along to meet new people and explore this lovely part of Kent.
