Essex Pedal Power Basildon – refer patients for a FREE bike and cycle training!

Essex Pedal Power is a community-based cycling project in Basildon that provides free high-quality bikes to residents, along with a helmet, lock, pump, and lights. Every eligible applicant has free access to training through learn to ride, cycle confidence, and bike maintenance sessions and the opportunity to take part in social bike rides. Essex Pedal Power has already distributed hundreds of bikes to eligible residents in Basildon borough and the project is currently scheduled to run until March 2025.

The EPP Basildon team work closely with local partners to support people experiencing significant barriers to cycling, by providing them with a bike and other services. GPs and Social Prescribers can refer eligible patients to the scheme who would benefit from this free and accessible form of transport and exercise.

Eligibility criteria and application process

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be a permanent resident of Basildon (town), Laindon, Vange or Pitsea.
• Applicant does NOT currently have access to a working bike.
• Applicant is aged 16 or over.
• Applicant commits to riding the bike regularly.

Priority will be given if the applicant falls into one of the following groups:

• A resident in our priority area of Felmores and Fryerns
• Referred by a local partner/ organisation
• Referred by a GP or Social Prescriber
• Employed by one of our workplace partners

The EPP Basildon team are taking referrals from Practices within the Central Basildon PCN, West Basildon PCN and East Basildon PCN. To make a referral, the GP or Social Prescriber should direct the patient to fill out their own bike application form, which is linked on our webpage: https://www.activeessex.org/essex-pedal-power/essex-pedal-power-basildon/

On the application form, it is important that patient answers Yes to the question Were you referred by your GP or Social Prescriber?, and provides both the name of the GP/Social Prescriber and Practice that referred. The EPP Basildon team will contact the Practice via email to verify the referral.

Any questions about the referral process or scheme in general can be directed to the EPP Basildon project co-ordinator, Lydia Smith (Lydia.Smith@theaws.org).