Manchester-based Ensemble Cycle Speedway is the latest club to win a share of Flutter’s £400,000 Cash4Clubs scheme. The grassroots programme has donated grants worth £2,000 to 200 clubs across the UK and Ireland to keep adults engaged in sport and remove barriers to participation. The club – which encourages adults to get involved in the growing bicycle-based sport – will use its £2000 grant to teach members how to ride, fix and maintain the specialised bikes they use.

Commending the Flutter-backed Cash4Clubs funding, Member of Parliament for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell said, “Manchester has a long history as the home of British cycling. I am delighted that this funding can enable Ensemble Cycle Speedway Club in Miles Platting to continue this proud tradition.

“The volunteers who keep this club afloat are the beating heart of this community and I cannot commend them enough."

Organisers of Ensemble – which uses facilities at Astley and Tyldesley cycling club – say the critical cash injection is allowing coaches to train participants and maintain the equipment to a professional standard.

placeholder image — Organisers of Ensemble – which uses facilities at Astley and Tyldesley cycling club – say the critical cash injection is allowing coaches to train participants and maintain the equipment to a professional standard

Melanie Ngangen, one of the founders, said: “We have a very proud, growing community at Ensemble.

“Cycle Speedway has been an incredible part of our group as it offers a great chance for people to stay active and compete in a fun sport. The grant from ‘Cash4Clubs’ has allowed us to realise our dreams.

“The money is being used to properly train coaches to repair bicycles and transform them into bikes that our growing group can use for Cycling Speedway. It has given us such a huge boost.”

Cycle Speedway is a form of bicycle racing on short-distance, oval tracks – typically no more than 70 to 90 metres. Riders compete in four laps around the track, with races typically lasting 35 to 40 seconds. The sport is known for its fast-paced, intense and tactical nature.

Since the Cash4Clubs initiative was launched in 2008, nearly £6.5 million has been invested into community sports

It requires specially adapted bikes, which need regular maintenance, have no brakes and run on a single gear.

Ensemble Manchester was founded almost 20 years ago with an aim to bring people from the Cameroonian community together, enabling them to participate in active sport and give participants an opportunity to enjoy their common roots and heritage through sport.

Melanie said: “Interest in Cycling Speedway is growing generally, and growing for us. I am a big fan of it. Cycling helped me a lot during lockdown. Cycle Speedway brings a lot of happiness to our members.”

“However, there is a lot of equipment needed so we are going to train a group of our members to learn how to maintain the bikes and add to their sense of purpose through the contribution they make.”

Cycle Speedway is a form of bicycle racing on short-distance, oval tracks – typically no more than 70 to 90 metres

Since the Cash4Clubs initiative was launched in 2008, nearly £6.5 million has been invested into community sports by Flutter UKI through its brands, which include Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming PokerStars and tombola.

Last year, over 40,000 people across 50 different sports benefitted from the Cash4Clubs fund. Almost 85% of those clubs funded were from lower socio-economic groups.

Other clubs in the region to have received vital grants from the Flutter UKI Cash4Clubs funding initiative include Bury Athletic Club, Oldham Ability Counts Football Club and Better Things Football Club in Wythenshawe to name just a few.

Kevin Harrington, Chief Executive of Flutter UKI, said:

“The Cash4Clubs initiative is a key part of our group’s global commitment to improve the lives of 10 million people in the communities where we operate by 2030 as part of our Positive Impact Plan. Community clubs are the bedrock of sport in the UK and Ireland, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help these smaller organisations continue to make a big difference to people’s lives.

“Last year, we doubled our funding from £200,000 to £400,000 after receiving so many applications. The number of clubs needing financial assistance continues to grow, which indicates the real value these grants have for local grassroots organisations, many of which are existing on a shoestring.”

Sported’s Head of Marketing, Mark Woods, said:

"More than 700 clubs from across the UK and Ireland, spanning a massive variety of sports, submitted applications for the scheme and our priority was to support recipients delivering real impacts into their communities. So many of these groups are addressing barriers to participation to ensure that no-one is excluded from sport and physical activity due to financial, societal or physical challenges.

“But we know every penny is precious in what they do. The funds provided through Cash4Clubs underline the huge impact which even a modest grant can have on these organisations, and it will make a difference to the people they serve."

Applications for next year’s round of grant funding will open later this year. For more information, please visit https://cash-4-clubs.com/.