Funding
Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein
The Watchtree Wheelers were originally set up thanks to a £50,000 grant from The National Lottery - People Millions in 2008. This Grant allowed Watchtree Nature Reserve to set up the project, design and construct a purpose built cycle track and purchase a small fleet. In 2009 Watchtree Nature Reserve made the decision to take on an extra member of staff titled Access and Development; a major part of this persons role would be to develop the Watchtree Wheelers. The position was funded by Watchtree Reserve funds and help from Defra although it was agreed that sufficient funds were only available for a two year post, after which alternative funding would have to be found if the post was to continue.
The Access and Development Officer; that many of you will know as Ryan, was due to end his post in June this year. Thankfully the Watchtree Wheelers have been lucky enough to secure funding from The Northern Rock Foundation which will allow us to extend this contract for a further three years under the new title of "Project Officer".
We would like to take this oppotunity to say a huge Thank You to the Northern Rock Foundation!
The funding means that the project is now secure for the future and that we can now focus on further developments safe in the knowledge that there is going to be somebody to oversee the project for years to come.
Our ever growing cycle fleet and user facilities are also only available because of donations, grants and fundraising efforts. Special thanks also go to the following organisation and people for there efforts in fundraising, grants and donations.
- Cumbria Community Foundation
- CN Group
- The 2010 'Three Peaks' and "Great North Swim" teams
- Ayers Explorer Scouts
- Aiming High
- All the donators of cycles and equiptment