“Incredibly positive impact”: How GTCT funding has supported a special relationship between Gower Riders and Swansea’s young carers
In the past couple of years, Gower Riders have felt the long-term benefit of Geraint Thomas Cycling Trust funding which was used to collaborate with Swansea Young Carers – based at YMCA Swansea – to deliver coached sessions and recreational rides for young carers in the local community.
“It’s enabled us to strengthen our relationship with Swansea Young Carers and provided an opportunity for a number of them to participate in cycling, an opportunity to have a rare break from their caring responsibilities,” commented Gareth Govier, who has held positions such as Head Coach and Chairman at the club, when he spoke to us.
The coached sessions took place in Pembrey Country Park while the recreational rides occurred around Swansea, giving participants an enjoyable variety of activity throughout the project.
“All of the sessions and rides put on for the young carers with GTCT funding have facilitated continued and increased interaction between the young carers and club members of all ages,” explained Gareth, with many regular club riders joining the recreational rides alongside young carers each time.
“This allowed them to improve their personal and social skills such as communication, conversation, confidence, and self-esteem,” he said.
In addition, new friends, new skills, and better knowledge about some hugely important elements in cycling and cycling safety have proven key aspects of the success of Gower Riders’ project.
So much so that Gower Riders have felt throughout as if they’d recruited more club members as a result of this outreach with Swansea Young Carers!
“The rides reinforced the closeness between the young carers and club members,” confirmed Gareth, “which has ultimately helped them to feel more like club members themselves, rather than occasional visitors to club sessions and rides.
“And their involvement has in turn provided an increase in the number of participants in club activities. This has given the club a huge boost, generating a good feeling amongst members with a real buzz around!”
The project has been a real factor in Gower Riders’ recent success, Gareth believes, with increased participation in activities and a fervour on social media seeing an uplift in new recruits at the club.
Gareth estimates new members as a result of this project to be around 20, while the project itself has positively impacted around 150 individuals, including 16 young carers from the local community.
“We’ve been able to demonstrate the positive, fun, family-friendly environment, that the project has created, through social media, enabling us to increase our membership even further with several new families joining the club.”
The project’s reach has proven incredibly valuable for a variety of groups. As well as being young carers, the individuals supported through these sessions and rides have included those with disabilities, those from BME backgrounds, those from socially deprived areas, and women and girls, all of whom would have lacked opportunities to get involved with cycling had it not been for this Gower Riders initiative.
“It’s clear that the project has had an incredibly positive impact,” stated Gareth, “both on the participants’ physical and psychological wellbeing.
“It’s provided some much need respite from their daily caring responsibilities and has enabled them to be more active and learn new skills, both sporting skills and life skills, which we hope will support them for the rest of their lives.”
One young carer called Thomas described how he “enjoyed making new friends” through the project, while another called Max “had so much fun going out with the young carers group outside YMCA”.
Young Carers Project Coordinator Egija Cinovska also fed back how the project was of great benefit, stating that “it provided them with an opportunity to have a break from their caring roles while taking part in a fun and educational activity. Activities such as cycling are essential to promote positive mental and physical wellbeing for young carers.”
As well as having a deep impact on the young carers, Gareth accentuated just how important the sessions and rides in collaboration with Swansea Young Carers were for Gower Riders as a club.
“They allowed us to be more aware and understanding of the challenges young carers face on a daily basis and just how difficult, but important it is to find the time to just have fun.”
The GTCT is thrilled to have been able to support this vital and inspirational work, which has opened up cycling to young people and positively impacted many lives; and we are delighted to see the desire to continue working together to empower people through cycling.
Learn more about how you can apply for funding, as an individual or group, here.
