Join us in Bristol on 5th October for a ride to celebrate the launch of the FIAS Toolkit.
What is the FIAS Toolkit?
The FIAS Toolkit: Supporting thriving women+ mountain biking communities. The toolkit follows the FIAS Framework, which is designed to guide sports policy institutions in shaping their programmes and priorities to support activities that foster a cultural shift in mountain biking towards better gender equality and inclusivity. The Framework has ‘COMMUNITY’ at its core, based on our extensive research that illuminates the central role the women+ communities play in shifting the culture of mountain biking, and fostering positive experiences among women+.
The FIAS team have therefore, developed the toolkit to support women+ who want to set up a mountain biking community and women+ who already lead a community. It brings together the collective wisdom of mountain biking communities across the UK and provides guidance on the following areas:
- Planning and initiating: how to get things off the ground.
- Recruiting and diversifying: how to reach the women+ you’d like to reach.
- Ensuring a positive experience: how to get the vibe right on every ride.
- Retaining and sustaining: how to ensure your community thrives and grows.
Why are we holding the event and who is invited?
We are inviting ALL mountain bikers to come together to celebrate community in mountain biking, and the ways that women+ only communities can foster positive, joyful experiences for women+. We are celebrating the community catalysts, the new riders, and the supporters and allies who help mountain biking grow, thrive and evolve.
When and where is the event?
The event will be held on 5th October at Ashton Court in Bristol – a group ride followed by pastries and coffee. We will meet at 9am and ride from 9.30am.
The ride will be hosted by Ride Bristol, Bristol’s Trail Association who build and maintain Bristol’s amazing network of mountain bike trails. They have a mission to support community in mountain biking and run a monthly women’s ride: Women Ride Bristol. The women’s ride will be the main focus of the event, and there will be mixed group rides as well, so everyone is welcome to join one of the many led groups going out that morning.
A photographer and videographer from the University of Bristol will be at the event to capture the excitement, connection and joy that comes from mountain biking community rides.
We hope to see you there!
To find out more about the launch event, and the FIAS project, please get in touch with project lead, Fiona Spotswood Fiona.Spotswood@Bristol.ac.uk.