Introduction & Vision
All Londoners wishing to cycle will be positively enabled to do so, and the experience will be joyous and encouraging to others. Mass everyday cycling will be seen by those who shape and plan London as a hallmark of the vision of a modern thriving capital city. A new perspective on designing neighbourhoods for cycling will lead to a restoration of public spaces.
Our mission
London Cycling Campaign works to ensure that the views and interests of people who already cycle in London and would be cyclists are persuasively articulated, routinely requested and effective in influencing decision making and creating better outcomes for cycling.
We do this by harnessing the power of enthused members, supporters, staff, local groups and community organisations to campaign, critically engage, and work in partnership to create real leadership and change for cycling in London.
We provide excellence in service and support to our members, local groups and partners and we work to ensure that our volunteer activists are empowered and rewarded through having their contribution recognised and the changes that they are fighting for achieved.
Our strategic objectives 2008-2013
- An everyday cycling culture is strongly associated with what defines the modern cosmopolitan city
- Neighbourhoods and streets are won back in favour of cycling and walking
- Leadership and political priority overcome the barriers to cycling
- London cycling is diverse and inclusive
Values
We believe in the power of local voluntarism and respect the knowledge, passion, and commitment of local volunteer activists. We believe that their role is central to achieving our vision
We believe that a modern third sector organisation should be accountable to those on whose behalf they are working
We are down to earth, open and inviting to all to enjoy our rides, our activities and our activism in the ways that best suit them
We believe that a better London is possible; one that frees individuals and the city’s potential from car dependency and creates cleaner, quieter, greener, socially vibrant neighbourhoods
We believe in diversity and equality: those who are socially excluded and most disadvantaged by the negative impacts of dangerous, polluted and unpleasant road environments should have a voice and receive priority in resource allocation and decision making
We believe in the courage to challenge the causes of the problem not just its symptoms.
We believe in independence and conviction to challenge the status quo, respectful persuasion to win people over, friendship and partnership where we share goals, enthusiasm to contribute to solutions, outspokenness where necessary, but always openness to learn
We believe in a sustainable London which improves the lives and potential of Londoners while enriching and restoring local environments and not threatening global climate or the earth’s resources for future generations
Status
The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) was established from a number of local London grass root cycling campaign groups in 1978. The organisation became a registered charity on 14 August 2006.
Structure
LCC is governed by a Board of 10 members elected at the Annual General Meeting,5 being elected each year for a two-year period each. There are severalstanding committees: Campaigns Coordination,Human Resources, Finance & Audit and Marketing and Income, Strategy, as well as ad hoc committees when necessary. Representatives of LCC groups (below) sit on the Campaigns sub-committee.
Local and Specialised Groups
There are LCC Local Groups in every London Borough, altogether involving about 600 - 800 volunteers. Their activities vary, including community cycling projects and events such as fun rides and Bike2Work days, bike checks and bicycle maintenance workshops, cyclists’ breakfasts, bike festivals and try-out days. They also work closely with their local authorities on cycling infrastructure and join together in the LCC Borough Group Forum.
Other specialised LCC groups include the Disability Action Group, the Canals & Parks Group, the Cycle Planning & Engineering Group and the Olympics Working Group.
Position within the community
LCC has more than 10,500 members spread across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, and is the largest urban cycling organisation in the world. It is the representative body of London cycling and works closely with national, regional and local government, with public agencies and authorities, and with strategic transport, development, regeneration and environmental organisations. LCC also works with a wide range of local and community organisations.
LCC Background briefing 2009Page 1 of 3KT/KB
Our work
LCC works on wide range of projects and programmes including work with:
community groups and our local groups
disadvantaged groups and communities
London’s health, education and business sectors
national, regional and local government
transport, development, regeneration and environmental organisations
individual members and the general public.
Staff
LCC currently has 16 staff at its central office (one is on maternity leave): Chief Executive, Director of Programme Development, Director of Business Development, Marketing & Income Generation Manager,Campaigns Manager, Campaigns Officer, FinanceOfficer, Membership Development Officer, Membership Support Assistant, Office Manager, Cycling Development Officer,CommunicationsOfficer and three Community Cycling Officers. There is also a freelance magazine editor. A core group of about 10 office volunteers assist in various office tasks from databasing to providing information to the general public.
Funding & Finance
LCC’s main source of funding is its members. It also receives grants from London Councils and funding from various charitable trusts (e.g. Big Lottery, Esmée Fairbairn and Sainsbury’s Family Trusts). More recently, we have generated significant income from delivering services and consultancy work alongside corporate sponsorship. Annual income in 2008/9was approximately £1m.
Membership Services
Members of LCC receive free third party insurance, the London Cyclist magazine, free legal advice in the case of accident, access to the support and activities of their local borough group, additional free benefits with specialist cycle theft insurance and discounts in many London bike shops. LCC also runs public telephone information and advice line answered by staff/volunteers and provides small grants to local borough groups to support their activities and training days for members.
Publications
London Cyclist
LCC’s bi-monthly magazine has aprint-run of 11,500 and estimated readership of almost 20,000. It is distributed to members, policy makers and others. It consistently wins high appreciation ratings in our surveys.
LCC’s website is open to members and non-members alike, with news, campaigns, information and publications, advice and guidance. It’s a resource for activists and cycle users, public bodies and businesses, policy-makers and journalists.
Leaflets and standards
LCC publishes and provides a wide and growing range of information leaflets, advisory standards and briefings, available from its office and increasingly from its website.
Updated KTMay 2008, Revised KB Nov 2009
LCC Background briefing 2009Page 1 of 3KT/KB