Link: Latest Update and Actions Required

For Bikeability Grant Recipients

Thank you for your patience as we continue to develop and roll out the Link system. We are listening to your feedback and whilst the system still has some minor issues, we are pleased with the progress made so far.

We have recently recruited a specialist agency to support the ongoing development of Link and we are working hard to resolve any outstanding technical issues. We are continually improving Link for everyone and some of our plans are in this email.

Our team are always on hand to support with any queries, concerns or feedback. Please email contactus@bikeability.org.uk and a member of the relevant team will get back to you.

Award Materials Available From New Shop

We are pleased to announce that our new online shop is now live and fully restocked. The shop is accessible via your Link login and stocks complete award material packs, certificates and badges.

The Shop accepts both credit cards and BACS payments, and your order will be shipped within 3 working days of receipt of payment. The Trust is not in a position to offer a credit facility via purchasing invoices and goods can only ship once payment is cleared.

If you have any questions regarding the shop or an order you have placed, please contact the team directly by emailing orders@bikeabilitytrust.org.

Rider Characteristics Mandatory from 1 July

To ensure everyone has the confidence to cycle and enjoy this skill for life, it is vital that we collect certain anonymised data on recipients of Bikeability cycle training. From the 1 July, it will be compulsory to report on ethnicity, gender, SEND and access to Pupil Preminum.

In order to ensure this information is correctly inputted, the gender and ethnicity columns must equal the number of participants in order to submit your claim. If this information is not gathered and submitted, you will be unable to claim for your grant payment.

Please ensure you have the correct processes and procedures in place to ensure your data collection is GDPR compliant. All rider characteristics added to the Link Database are fully anonymised and therefore GDPR compliant. You can read more in our updated Privacy Policy. Our Privacy Policy has been fully reviewed with the Department for Transport, and these new conditions are part of the terms and conditions for grant funding.

The only exception to recording these characteristics is when delivering Adult or Family cycle training. In these circumstances, individuals may reserve the right to refuse to answer questions on gender or ethnicity, as these cannot be anonymised. If an individual refuses to categorise themselves, you may select "prefer not to say" when reporting on this training.

By gathering this data, we can improve how we demonstrate the reach and value of Bikeability cycle training to the Department of Transport which is vital for the future of the industry. As demonstrated by the bids received for the Innovation Fund SEND pilot, up to date and accurate data is vital to ensure that Bikeability is truly for all.

Important Changes to Your Renewal

We have reviewed our renewals process and all grant recipient renewals will now be due on 1 October. You will receive a reminder email 8 weeks in advance and the renewal will appear on Link.

For those of you who have not yet completed your 2021 renewal, you must now complete your renewal by 1 October 2021. If you completed your renewal in February 2021, your next renewal will take place on 1 October 2022.

If you are a grant recipient and training provider, your renewal date will be moved to 1 October for both accounts.

As part of this change to the renewal process, we now only require two documents to complete your renewal. These changes will be reflected on Link in the coming months, but in the meantime please review and update the following.

If you outsource some or all of your training delivery, you must upload:

1. Service Level Agreement

2. Monitoring Quality of Training Provider (which replaces the current Quality Assurance document). You can find the updated model form on the Professionals website.

If you manage all of your training delivery inhouse, you must upload:

1. Terms and Conditions of Instructor and Bikeability Management Employment

2. Your Annual IQA Plan

For further information and support, please visit the Professionals website or contact us.

Additional Reporting Measures Required

In addition to the collection of rider characteristics, which will become compulsory to report on Link from 1 July, we have introduced further reporting measures. These must be reported as part of your renewal:

• Number of Stage 2 complaints about training providers received during previous financial year
• Number of complaints about grant recipient received during previous financial year
• Number of reports from training providers on serious Health and Safety and Safeguarding incidents received during previous financial year. Please note; all serious incidents must be reported to the Trust immediately, as per grant terms and conditions. Read further guidance here.

This will support our increased transparency of reporting to the Department of Transport, as part of our commitment to the Gear Change strategy. We advise that you begin to collate and report on these complaints, ahead of their official implementation.

Why have I received this email?

You have received this communication as your email address is listed as a primary or secondary email address for a grant recipient account on Link. If you received this communication in error, please update your Link account or contact contactus@bikeability.org.uk