Rhyl Cycling Club riding to success with money seized from criminals

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has visited a cycling club to see how money taken from criminals is being used to help it thrive.

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 fund supports grass-roots projects and is supported by the North Wales Police PCC, North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police itself.

The club is based at the Marsh Tracks cycling facility in Rhyl, where members run youth activities twice a week to help young bike riders to improve their bike handling skills and fitness. The funding will support the cost of new bikes and safety helmets.

While visiting the Marsh Tracks on Wednesday, North Wales PCC Andy Dunbobbin met club chair Damian Pope, secretary and founding member Jon Harland and coach David Henley to hear about future plans for the club.

Mr Harland 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.”

The Your Community, Your Choice initiative is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, with a total of over £500,000 awarded to more than 150 projects working to reduce crime in their areas over the last decade.

The funding comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest provided by the PCC.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “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.”