Tell us about your organisation, how you started and what you do?
The vision for starting No Limits to Health CIC came from the success and satisfaction that I gained from my 7 year employment as a full-time youth worker for Wolverhampton City Council from 2004 – 2011. I was working for the Multi Agency Project (MAP) in Blakenhall, All Saints and Parkfields as part of the New Deal for Communities which brought in £53 million for regeneration of the area.
During that time I started a health project for young people living in the local area. In the school holidays, we organised many cycling events including 3 ‘Day Cycle Residentials’ across Great Britain. This gave me the vision after I left, to set up something similar for myself to enable more people to experience the benefits of cycling for health and wellbeing.
The vision of No Limits to Health CIC is simply: ‘To enable children, young people and adults to experience the joys and benefits of cycling for health, wellbeing, sport and leisure, by bicycle or assisted powered cycles.’
In terms of what we do, the following is part of our essential core delivery:
- British Cycle ‘Lets Ride’ Cycle Rides.These monthly rides are free for all who are able to join in. Visit nolimitstohealth.com to book
- British Cycle/ Cycle UK Ride Leader Training – we work in partnership with British Cycling & Cycle UK to organize Ride Leader training for interested individuals who wish to use their cycling experience to lead group cycling activities.
- Local Heritage Bike Tours.For a reasonable charge, participants will visit sites within the West Midlands and beyond that are of importance in preserving the heritage of the local area visited.
- Dr Bike Check-up & Repair Sessions – we will check your bike and complete minor repairs on the spot. Any major repairs will be referred to the local cycle repair shops that we recommend.
- No Limits to Health School Cycle Residentials. Aimed at young people aged 11– 21 who are in mainstream or special education or are attending a local youth club or church youth group.
- No Limits to Health Cycle Holidays – for the general public
What has been your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement to date for No Limits to Health CIC has been the success in raising the initial capital funding to get the vision going, namely the funding to purchase the cycle container and the fleet of bikes to enable us to deliver the No Limits to Health Cycling activities in Wolverhampton, The Black Country and the West Midlands.
What is your experience of support received from WVSC?
WVSC has been invaluable in the advice and guidance on our legal status as initially we set up as a CIC Limited by Shares but following advice from Sharon, we changed to a CIC Limited by Guarantee. This has been a fundamental and crucial shift in our ability to access funding. In addition, the funding newsletter that Sharon sends out is invaluable. Finally, WVSC has been a great help in promoting No Limits to Health’s Cycling Activities to a wider audience.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt about working with people in Wolverhampton?
Being patient, consistent and realistic in what you are offering to the community. It’s best to under-promise and over-deliver. There’s a saying that ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ Great companies that have survived and thrived were usually begun under humble circumstances, where the passion of the founder kept them going even when the vision at times seemed impossible.
What are some of the challenges you face and how can WVSC help to support your organisation in the future?
The two key challenges that we currently face are firstly, recruiting and training a core base of between 10 -15 Ride Leaders who will be available to deliver the vision of No Limits to Health CIC going forward.
Secondly, funding is an ongoing challenge. I would like to think that we can raise further funding which would enable me to give more time to No Limits to Health CIC and to be able to recruit staff to increase our impact in Wolverhampton. Eventually, we are aiming to become self-sustaining and not having to rely on funding.
Where can we find out more?
Samuel Henry, Founder, No Limits to Health CIC
Director (Inclusion, Diversity & Disability) British Cycling West Midlands Regional Board
No Limits to Health CIC, Wolverhampton Science Park, Pa103, WV10 9RU
www.nolimitstohealth.com / nolimitstohealth@gmail.com
Mobile: 0786 270 5422
Would you like to be featured in our Voluntary Sector Focus? Contact Sharon Nanan-Sen on snanan-sen@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk for more info!