Cycle Sisters to Scale with COSARAF Support

Cycle Sisters and COSARAF Foundation will be partnering on a project to support the establishment of two new women’s cycle groups.

Founded in 2016, Cycle Sisters creates accessible and empowering opportunities for Muslim women to cycle. Through women-only rides, cycle lessons, volunteer training and campaigns, the charity helps women improve their health, confidence and social connections through cycling.

Over the past decade, Cycle Sisters has grown from a small local initiative in one London borough into an award-winning organisation with a network of more than 2500 women. Today, it operates local groups across London, trains volunteer Ride Leaders from within local communities, and works with local authorities, cycling organisations and community partners to break down barriers to cycling.

The new COSARAF-funded project marks an important milestone in Cycle Sisters’ development, enabling the organisation to take its first significant steps beyond London. Over the next three years, Cycle Sisters will establish two new community-led groups, The project will involve training local women as volunteer Ride Leaders, developing partnerships with community organisations and local authorities, and creating regular women-only cycling opportunities for Muslim women.

Muslim women face some of the lowest physical activity rates in the UK and are the least likely to cycle – only 16.3% have cycled in the last year. These inequalities have significant consequences – nearly 1 in 3 Muslim women aged 65+ report their health as “bad” or “very bad.”

Many women face barriers including a lack of culturally inclusive opportunities, limited role models and concerns about confidence and safety. Cycle Sisters’ community-led approach has proven highly effective in addressing these barriers, creating welcoming spaces where women can build skills, friendships and confidence.