PCC sees how Rhyl club is riding to success with the aid of money seized from criminals

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited Rhyl Cycling Club on May 11 to see the crucial work the club is doing in the community and to see how money taken from criminals is being used for the good of the people of the area.

Rhyl Cycling Club was one of the recent winners of the Your Community, Your Choice funding awards and is the largest youth cycling club in North Wales. The Your Community, Your Choice fund supports grass-roots projects and is supported by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police. The club is based at the Marsh Tracks traffic-free cycling facility in Rhyl, and members run youth activities twice a week throughout the year for all young bike riders to improve their bike handling skills and fitness for today’s active travel initiatives.

The funding from Your Community, Your Choice is helping support the cost of new bikes and safety helmets for the young people to use to enable them to get active and get cycling. While at the Marsh Tracks, Andy Dunbobbin met club Chair Damian Pope; Secretary and Founding Member, Jon Harland; and Coach David Henley and heard about the plans for the club and what they do to engage with local youth in the areas of active travel and sport.

Your Community, Your Choice is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023 and, over the past ten years, a total of over £500,000 has been awarded to more than 150 projects working to reduce crime in their areas and to support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. The funding for Your Community, Your Choice comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest from the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Jon Harland, Secretary and Founding Member said: “We are so pleased to be successful and receive support from PACT. We're based in area which is one of the most disadvantaged in Wales, and combined with our efforts to encourage our younger generation to travel safely on two wheels in one of the most energy efficient modes, this is an award we will treasure and put to the best possible use.

“The bikes and helmets provided via this successful grant will be included in the 'Quid a Kid' sessions at Marsh Tracks in Rhyl on Sundays for no extra charge, and will improve and encourage children and teenager skills on a bike for the future. The introductory skills sessions for only a £1 can be booked on our Facebook group.”

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “I was delighted to join Rhyl Cycling Club and see the fantastic work they are doing to provide activities and opportunities for young people in the Rhyl and North Denbighshire area.

“Giving young people something active and creative to do is hugely important and the Club does great work in giving a positive outlet for local young people’s energy. It's also very fitting that the funding for Your Community, Your Choice should come partly from money seized from criminals, which shows that these funds can be put to good use for the benefit of the wider community.”

PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers stated: “Grass roots projects are the life blood for improving communities across North Wales, making them safer and more resilient places to live. Rhyl Cycling Club is a great example of this in action and it’s a pleasure to be able to support them through Your Community, Your Choice.”

North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop said: “This is a fantastic cycling group which is making a big difference to the lives of children and young people in Denbighshire. The activities they provide in terms of offering diversions, activities and support to young people is much needed and am sure the Your Community, Your Choice funding will help them in their work.”