Cycle Friendly Community Award
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Completing the self-assessment is the first phase of the process to apply for the Cycle Friendly Community Award.
Information on the award itself, the process and the self-assessment form can be found below.
The Award
The Cycle Friendly Community Award is a nationally recognised award for communities across Scotland.
Following the success of the Cycle Friendly Awards for Schools and Employer (and now the development of a Campus
Award), the Communities Award is aimed at supporting and championing communities across Scotland working to
embed cycling within the local area.
The criteria are grouped into 3 main themes; Plan and Strategy, Governance and Delivery. Each criteria is broken down
into 3 levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold, dependent on the activity undertaken and outcome being achieved;

To achieve Bronze which is the entry level award, you will have a robust plan and identified outcomes.

To achieve the Silver award, you will have met and excelled in the Bronze level criteria, broadened your scope as
leading community organisation, created meaningful partnerships whilst fully utilising your project plan.

The highest level of award is the Gold level. Obtaining Gold level in the criteria highlights the outstanding work
you are doing over and above the Bronze and Silver Award requirements, demonstrating your success to other
communities.
The Award Process
Step 1: Self-Assessment - Community group should complete a self-assessment form and submit to Cycling Scotland for
review.
Step 2: Field Assessment - A Cycling Scotland Development Officer will visit your community and carry out a field
assessment. This will follow a more in depth assessment (against the same criteria set as the self-assessment).
Step 3: Award/ Action Plan - Following the field assessment, you will be informed either; that you have achieved the
award, the level you have achieved; or you will be informed that you have not achieved the award yet but will receive an
action plan detailing key areas of focus, dependent on the community’s needs and priorities. At this stage Cycling
Scotland may recommend an application for a Cycle Friendly Community Development Grant (Dependent on funds
available).
Step 4: Re-assessment – If your community group was not successful in receiving the award, a re-assessment can be
carried out when key identified areas of development have been addressed or developed upon since initial assessment.
This process will duplicate steps 1 and 2 and can result in your community either achieving the award or moving level of
award (for example from Bronze to silver). For any level of award, a re-assessment is required after 3 years.
Development Grants – Development Grants can be applied for by community groups via a formal application process or
can be recommended (depending on available funds) by development officer following Step 2 of the Award Process.
Development grants should be used to assist community groups in achieving prioratised criteria which will in turn assist
them in achieving the Cycle Friendly Community Award.
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Self-Assessment Form
In relation to the following criteria, please detail which areas you are already achieving or are currently working
towards achieving. Reference should be made to the Cycle Friendly Community Award Guidance Notes.
Community Group Name
Lead Contact Name
Lead Contact Telephone Number
Address
(please state if this is community premises or a personal address)
Community Location
Postcodes and boundaries & Local Authority
Population of community
Local Authority
Date of Assessment
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Theme 1: Planning and Strategy
Criteria 1: Plan for Action - differs in each community but will have set common themes
Bronze
 You should have an aspirational long term plan for the
next 5 years with an overall aim to increase cycling in the
community
 Links to Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) and your
Local Authorities Single Outcome Agreement
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 You play a key role in embedding cycling within local
strategies and assisting in achieving associated outcomes
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 You should have a formal structure to gain wider
recognition and to feed into wider Local Authority led
strategies
 Delivery and dedicated funding for national and local
cycling campaigns and initiatives
Example; ‘we have a long term plan for
the next 5 years outlining our main aim
‘Increase cycling in Glengarry Village
from current rate of 1% to 5% by 2020.’
Our plan outlines how we will achieve
this and how it relates to our local
Authority’s Single Outcome Agreement
and CAPS. Our plan is being used to assist
in the development of an Active Travel
Strategy for the Local authority.
(document can be supplied on request)’
Criteria 2: Identifying the barriers - Identify the barriers that prevent people cycling in your
community and actively work and plan to help overcome these.
Bronze
 Identified barriers to cycling
 Have a knowledge of current cycle rates
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Identification of outcomes and activities that will help
people to overcome barriers to cycling
 Actively working with partners to eliminate barriers
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Initially identified barriers
successfully
overcome
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Criteria 3: Identifying the needs - Methods of identifying the needs to your community
Bronze
 Identifying the needs of your community and prioritising
urgent and achievable outcomes
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Establishing and prioratising set outcomes to address the
urgent needs of the community
 Carrying out regular consultations with the community to
ensure changing needs are identified and addressed
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Delivering across a range of outcomes / forming national
case study or best practice
Criteria 4: Monitoring & Evaluation – is key at all staged of project delivery as it helps to identify the
impact of your project.
Bronze
 Baseline data gathered before the project starts
 Robust monitoring, reporting and evaluation strategy tied
into master plan
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Regular review and evaluation of project
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Collect qualitative and quantitative data
 Captured evidence which demonstrates project learning
and development.
Criteria 5: Funding Sustainability – identifying appropriate funders that will enable the funding of
activities to help you meet the award criteria and encourages funding sustainability in the future.
Bronze
 Awareness of funding streams appropriate for elements
of the project
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Identified, applied and/ or secured and allocated funding
for appropriate facilities
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Received funding or income in the community to increase
cycling
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Theme 2: Governance
Criteria 1: Community Group Leadership – One organisation should lead on the planning and
delivery of activities and initiatives which will help to achieve the award.
Bronze
 Led by a dedicated community group with
defined roles and responsibilities
 Identified Local cycling champions/
ambassadors
 Constituted group
 Identified geographical coverage of
community –particular geographical area of
focus
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Demonstrating partnership working –
working with others to achieve similar
goals
 Successful relationship with local authority
and local councils (community councils
etc.)
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Group clearly demonstrates ambition and
willingness to grow, engage more people
and volunteers
Criteria 2: Steering Group – Having a steering/ focus group allows you to carry out regular consultations with
community representatives and stakeholders to ensure you addressing the needs of the community
Bronze
 Consultation with community to identify
need and want for the project
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 A steering group made up of community
representatives
 Steering group used as a means to speak to
audience / those impacted by project
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Several working groups might be necessary
for different aspects of the project –
ongoing mechanism for participatory
appraisal
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Example 2; We have established a steering group
that meet each quarter in the community centre.
Community representation include, community
council, Primary School, Scout and Guide groups,
Local bike shop, health centre, community sports
hub, local authority, local land owners and local
Sustrans volunteers.
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Theme 3: Delivery
Criteria 1: Infrastructure and Promotion - Informing your community of why you are implementing
such changes.
Bronze
 Maximisation of existing local
infrastructure
 Maps, signage, NCN links
 Cycle parking at key locations
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Clear signage for variety of cycling
 Plans in place for development of
infrastructure
 Measures to reduce the impact of traffic
 Raising awareness of benefits of cycling,
health, social and environmental through
promotional activities
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Dedicated routes for cycling to key
destinations
 Successful promotional campaigns to
encourage more people to cycle locally
Example 3; Following a consultation, the
community requested that there was more
signage of local cycle paths and trails.
Criteria 2: Partnership working – delivery partners come in all shapes and sizes and can have huge
benefits to the outreach and success of your project.
Bronze
 Central group/ organisation leading with
links to local businesses, bike shops, cafes,
pubs, accommodation providers etc.
 Local Authority links and partnerships
 Identify private, public and 3rd sector
partnerships
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Interaction with local Business
 Improvement Districts (BIDs), local leisure
trusts and sports hubs
 Third sector interfaces
 Links with Bikeability delivery in schools
 Creating opportunities for idea sharing with
local organisations and partners
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Seeking and encouraging sponsorship
 Working with the Local Authority (SOA and
CPP)
 Utilising partner resources efficiently and
sustainably
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
Criteria 3: Linking with existing national programmes - Links with national programmes through
promoting, assisting and signposting institutes/ businesses and helping them achieve recognition and uptake of
initiatives.
Silver
 Encouraging and supporting uptake of
Cycle Friendly Suite Awards including ,
Schools, Employers and Campus
 Local health service initiatives / leisure
services / church hall based groups
 Other national organisation programmes
and award schemes
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Recognised innovative project with
measurable outcomes being achieved
Criteria 4: Cycling for All - Community should not just promote one single kind of cycling activity (i.e.
mountain biking or road racing) but rather, there should be opportunities for a range of cycling attractive to a range of
cycling ability which will ultimately lead to a cycling culture in the community.
Bronze
 Hosting social cycling activities
 Organising and promoting led rides and
cycling activities
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Promoting local cycling activities
 Encouraging and supporting all ability
cycling
 Providing or signposting to cycle training
opportunities
 Ensuring activities are inclusive
 Offering a Bike library/ loan scheme/ hire
scheme
 Offering basic cycle maintenance sessions
and learning opportunities
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus;
 Cycle training provision and increasing
confidence in on road situations
 Maintenance training open to the
community
 Peer mentoring and buddy systems for
training and increasing confidence
Other key activities including 1 or more of the
following:
o Specifically targeting areas of
deprivation,
BME
groups,
disability
and
disengaged
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015
Cycle Friendly Community Award
o
o
o
o
o
audiences
Parent
engagement
to
encourage and assist with cycle
buddy
programme
and
Bikeability delivery
Cycle club development
Wide and targeted range of
Cycle Training
Locals trained to a level where
they can train others i.e. Cycle
Trainers
Cycle Training for all – 100% of
community have access to
cycling opportunities
Criteria 5: Communication – Communication is key to achieve each aspect of the Award criteria.
Bronze
 Communication had been considered and
planned both;
o Between community groups
o To the community
Silver
Fulfilment of Bronze Criteria, plus;
 Communication plan being delivered
Gold
Fulfilment of Silver Criteria, plus
 Communications responding to insights and
accommodating all user groups
Completed applications should be e-mailed to:
shona@cyclingscotland.org
Or posted to
Cycling Scotland
24 Blythswood Square
Glasgow
G2 4BG
Cycle Friendly Community Award Self-Assessment Form – June 2015