Merseytravel Community Support Initiatives 2017-18
Introduction
Merseytravel wish to work in partnership with community groups/ non-profit organisations/ social enterprises to engage with and assist local communities to encourage access to opportunity through sustainable transport solutions. Our Communities and Employment Engagement Team can offer support to your organisation to:-
•Through the availability of travel tickets, increase uptake of public transport to:-
-increase pre-employment activities
-increase training/ employment opportunities
-reduce social isolation
•Through the availability of cycling related initiatives/ equipment, encourage the use of active, sustainable travel – cycling and walking to access opportunities to:
-increase pre-employment activities
-increase training/ employment opportunities
-reduce social isolation
-promote health and wellbeing
To help meet these aims we can offer a package of initiatives available to apply for. See following pages for further details.
Public Transport Initiatives
Travel Tickets
To qualifying groups, travel tickets are available to help public transport to become an ‘enabler’ for individuals, with the aims of:-
-increasing pre-employment activities
-increasing training/ employment opportunities
-reducing social isolation
Tickets can be distributed by groups/ organisations to support client groups/ centre users for journeys related to the above areas.
Public Transport/Journey Planning Information
The public transport network in Liverpool City Region can provide access to a variety of opportunities, but it can sometimes be daunting when searching for routes and looking for the best choice of tickets for particular journeys. Where required we can provide your staff and volunteers with the tools to make the task of planning and making a journey second nature.
Cycling Initiatives
Cycling is a cheap, healthy and flexible form of transport which can help break down barriers to opportunity and wellbeing. We have a range of support available to help integrate cycling into your community and amongst your centre users.
Cycle Training Sessions
Delivered for us by Bikeright, our delivery agent, these are free 2 hour sessions to increase skills and confidence – valid for everyone over the age of 16 in your community.
There are 4 levels of training available, from the basic ‘Learn to Ride’sessions, through to more advanced skills and manoeuvres for cycling on busier roads. Courses are delivered by BikeRight! Courses can be delivered directly at your centre – subject to numbers. The courses can cover:
Learn to ride
Level 1 - learn the basics - staying upright without wobbling, signalling, looking behind, using gears
Level 2 - building on level 1 to cycling on quiet roads, basic manoeuvres e.g. overtaking parked cars
Level 3 - more advanced skills and manoeuvres for cycling on busier roads. Becoming confident with more complex turns and junctions.
Cycle Maintenance Sessions
Free 2 hour sessions for over 16’s to increase skills and knowledge of how to maintain bikes. 4 separate themed sessions are available:
1. Safety checks – safety and cleaning
2. Punctures – changing and mending a puncture
3. Gears - gear adjustments
4. Brakes - brake adjustments - cables and blocks
Courses can be delivered directly at your centre, subject to numbers.
Community Pool Bikes
Provision of bikes to offer a low cost, sustainable method of improving access to opportunity for centre users. We can provide your community group with a small allocation of bikes for your centre. They can be used by your staff, volunteers and centre users to access local services and amenities, and can provide your community with a long term sustainable transport solution, enabling utility journeys to be made healthily and at low cost.
Ride Leader Training
The opportunity to send a staff member/ volunteer on a full day course to learn the skills and confidence needed to leadand assist in guided group bike rides in your community. The one day course can work to help to encourage cycling and embed it as a sustainable, healthy activity in your local community.
The course combines practical tasks and classroom activities, and covers a range of topics, including:
Role of a ride leader
Benefits and barriers of cycling
Route planning and risk assessments
Pre-ride information
Bicycle check and fitting helmets
Leader positioning during ride
Riding techniques
Basic bike maintenance
Dealing with accidents/incidents
Cycling Works’ Website Facility
Free access to a web tool allowing cycle journeys to be recorded. Designed to support, promote and increase cycling amongst your community, this can help encourage more cycling trips. It allows individuals and groups to log information about cycling journeys and set personal or group goals.
Registration is FREE and anyone over 16 can take part. Once registered individuals can log trips themselves or as part of a group.
Employers Network Membership
You will be required to register membership of Merseytravel’s Employer’s Network. The Network is free to join, has a membership of over 300 employers/ groups and provides a useful range of tools and offers for your group. You will be invited to two Forums per year, and will be able to share best practice with other Liverpool City Region Community Groups.
Engagement Officer Advice
Bespoke support from our team to give your centre the most appropriate and relevant advice on sustainable travel for staff, volunteers and centre users.