Pioneering cycling and fashion workshops to get more girls taking to two wheels
A pioneering new project aimed at getting more young women to take up cycling is getting Islington teenagers in a spin.
Called “This Girl Can Islington”, the pilot project started this week and sees young women from three Islington secondary schools taking an innovative approach to overcoming common issues that discourage them from cycling – leading to a stark difference in the proportions of boys and girls who cycle.
Students at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School (EGA), Highbury Fields School and City & Islington College this week started designing and creating fashionable and practical cycling clothes, which will help them feel more comfortable on a bike.
On hand to help is one of the cycling industry’s leading designers from Rapha – which has kitted out Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins and supplies Team Sky.
Pupils will also learn how to be safe and confident taking to the roads on a bicycle with Islington Council’s Bikeability programme.
The project will end with a scene-stealing fashion show in Highbury Fields this summer, with pupils enjoying a picnic then modelling the cool new clothes they have designed while cycling down a special runway.
The young women will cycle to the event itself to reinforce the girls’ new-found confidence on the road – and will lead on its organisation, branding and marketing.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “This innovative project was the result of looking at the underlying causes of lower rates of cycling among young women in Islington compared to young men.
“Addressing concerns around fashion and practicality in such a hands-on way is key to getting more young women cycling – and our Bikeability training will give them the skills and road safety awareness to make the most of their new-found confidence.
“I look forward to seeing the fruits of this pioneering, fun and engaging project at Highbury Fields this summer.”
The project is a collaboration between Islington Council, Transport for London (TfL) and Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL). The fashion workshops are led by a TfL youth travel ambassador co-ordinator.
Called “This Girl Can Islington”, the pilot project started this week and sees young women from three Islington secondary schools taking an innovative approach to overcoming common issues that discourage them from cycling – leading to a stark difference in the proportions of boys and girls who cycle.
Students at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School (EGA), Highbury Fields School and City & Islington College this week started designing and creating fashionable and practical cycling clothes, which will help them feel more comfortable on a bike.
On hand to help is one of the cycling industry’s leading designers from Rapha – which has kitted out Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins and supplies Team Sky.
Pupils will also learn how to be safe and confident taking to the roads on a bicycle with Islington Council’s Bikeability programme.
The project will end with a scene-stealing fashion show in Highbury Fields this summer, with pupils enjoying a picnic then modelling the cool new clothes they have designed while cycling down a special runway.
The young women will cycle to the event itself to reinforce the girls’ new-found confidence on the road – and will lead on its organisation, branding and marketing.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “This innovative project was the result of looking at the underlying causes of lower rates of cycling among young women in Islington compared to young men.
“Addressing concerns around fashion and practicality in such a hands-on way is key to getting more young women cycling – and our Bikeability training will give them the skills and road safety awareness to make the most of their new-found confidence.
“I look forward to seeing the fruits of this pioneering, fun and engaging project at Highbury Fields this summer.”
The project is a collaboration between Islington Council, Transport for London (TfL) and Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL). The fashion workshops are led by a TfL youth travel ambassador co-ordinator.
Notes to editors
Notes to editor
+ Islington Council led and won a funding bid for the This Girl Can project from Sport England to get women and girls to engage in more physical activity.
+ “This Girl Can Islington” is part of an overarching three-year project between Islington Council and TfL to get 450 more girls aged 14-17 cycling in Islington, called Your Wheel Style.
+ Research carried out by Sport England found that 14 to 17 is the age group with the greatest gender difference for participation in exercise, leading to the creation of the This Girl Can project.
+ Islington Council led and won a funding bid for the This Girl Can project from Sport England to get women and girls to engage in more physical activity.
+ “This Girl Can Islington” is part of an overarching three-year project between Islington Council and TfL to get 450 more girls aged 14-17 cycling in Islington, called Your Wheel Style.
+ Research carried out by Sport England found that 14 to 17 is the age group with the greatest gender difference for participation in exercise, leading to the creation of the This Girl Can project.
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