Marine Academy Primary in Plymouth, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, has launched its new Community Bike Hub.

Ryan Evans, Sustrans Bike It Plus officer at Plymouth City Council was in attendance for the launch on the 7^th of June along with representatives from the cycling charity Sustrans.  

Local families will now be able to borrow adult and children’s bikes and accessories from the school on a weekly rolling basis for free.  The bikes could be used to make the journey to and from school or for leisure trips in the evenings or at weekends. 

Staff at Marine Academy Primary hope that the scheme will allow children and their families to enhance their active travel opportunities and remove any challenges regarding the financial costs of cycling equipment. 

The St Budeaux school aims to provide pupils with a wide range of extracurricular activities in order to expand their cultural capital and understanding of the world.  Marine Academy Primary will continue to consider how they can help to provide experiences for children that they might not have access to otherwise. 

According to a study that followed 8,000 school children over a period of years, pupils who walk or cycle to school may have a healthier body weight than those who arrive by car. Sustrans have also stated that a 20-minute bike ride to work could use the same amount of calories as a cappuccino, a bar of chocolate or a 175ml glass of wine.

Alex Druce, Quality of Education Leader and Trust Lead for Primary Curriculum at Marine Academy Primary said:

“Everyone at Marine Academy Primary is really excited about the Community Bike Hub Scheme and its potential to strengthen our relationships with the community.  I hope that providing local families with access to any cycling equipment they might need will help to not only improve physical fitness but also mental wellbeing by getting them outside and travelling actively.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust said:

“We are lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country with the moors and coast on our doorstep, but it’s not always easily accessible.  I want to say a huge congratulations to Marine Academy Primary for organising this valuable resource for the community.  I hope that people will take advantage of the scheme and get pedalling!”