My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions
1
First Name
Last Name
Pronouns
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Initiative Title
Fast & Free
Lead Organization Name
Track Academy
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2007
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
www.trackacademy.co.uk
Initiative Stage
Pilot-Stage (The first activities have happened, and you have proof of concept)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Track Academy, Possible and My Choice CIC unite to empower diverse young Londoners to lead active, low-carbon lives - building a replicable blueprint for equitable active travel.
Challenge Focus: What topic does your initiative most directly relate to?
Climate action through awareness and engagement
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Young people in Brent face a triple threat: high car dependency, low physical activity and deep social deprivation, driving poor health, climate vulnerability and exclusion. Sport England data shows local youth activity well below national averages, while Harlesden and Stonebridge are among England’s most deprived wards, limiting access to green space, healthy food and climate-resilient living. Brent’s car-centred design normalises road danger, inactivity, air and noise pollution, congestion and isolation. Over 50% of households have access to a car or van, one of the highest rates in London, yet protected cycling routes are scarce. Transport emissions are linked to serious health harms locally, including reduced lung capacity in children. Track Academy found that 36% of its young people cannot ride a bike, a basic skill that enables independence and low-carbon travel. Research by Hickman et al. (2023) shows Black Londoners have high cycling potential but face barriers including cost, representation and fear of harassment. My Choice works to dismantle these barriers. These inequalities restrict youth climate action. At Track Academy, 45% are from low-income backgrounds and 85% from ethnic minority communities. They care about the climate but lack accessible, trusted pathways to act locally, undermining both Brent’s resilience and a just transition.
Your approach: How are you addressing the problem outlined above? How are you using the power of sport and physical activity to build awareness, shift behavior, and enable sustainable participation for all in response to the climate crisis? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
Track Academy, Possible and My Choice will work together to deliver Fast & Free - a project equipping 50+ diverse young people in Brent with the skills, confidence and leadership to choose active travel, using cycling as a practical entry point to climate action. By combining trusted youth sport, inclusive cycling and expert climate communications, we will build a youth-led model that reduces car dependency locally and can be replicated across London. Track Academy contributes 18 years of trusted youth delivery in Brent: 89% of our young people feel connected to their community; 88% find our activities useful. My Choice - the CIC behind Black Riders Association - brings five years of proven methodology for removing barriers faced by Black, Asian and female cyclists. Possible is a national climate charity with public communications expertise, and a strong track record of amplifying marginalised voices in the active travel space (e.g. food delivery riders). We know Track Academy’s youth like to be active and engage in the real world, their community. We want to engage them in new, fun, and active ways of getting about and support them to build the confidence to do that regularly. We will put on a series of taster sessions to allow young people to try different types of active travel - fitness walking, running, skating/blading (including skateboarding), scooting and cycling. Once the young people have tried different types of active travel, they will decide which ones they want to explore further. Then we will support them to set-up weekly meetups to learn the skills to get about safely (including traffic skills), technical maintenance of their kit (if necessary) and progressively increase their journey times and distances.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Our initiative is co-designed and co-delivered by the young people it serves. Track Academy's Youth Ambassadors (~10-12 members) are a formal scrutiny panel, meeting 3-4 times annually to hold staff and trustees to account, co-design activities and re-evaluate programmes. Staff engage youth 3-6 times weekly, so communication is constant. Youth recently pitched a relay event to London Youth and won £1,000. This trust is earned through sustained, multi-adult relationships—coaches, mentors, staff who show up consistently. Ra'elle, who arrived "quick to quit," now leads warm-ups and mentors younger girls. My Choice's model is community-led. They began as "a small riding group growing into a movement," listening and adapting. Their women-only and family-only rides responded directly to Muslim women and girls wanting safe, culturally respectful spaces. Today, former participants are trained instructors. Possible inspires climate action beyond the "green bubble." Their anti-oppression strategy embeds equity in every campaign from Car Free Cities to Hackney parklets. They know climate action must be anti-racist. They have trained young women of colour in climate campaigning in Tower Hamlets and their Fixing Factories in Camden and Hackney routinely engage young people of colour and those who are on no/low incomes. Fast & Free formalises this. Young people will: Explore taster sessions, decide which mode to pursue Co-design weekly sessions: routes, pace, stops Lead peer-to-peer workshops Shape the programme's evolution—youth managing it independently within three years We are not bringing climate action to the community. The community already leads. We provide the bikes, expertise and trust—they provide the movement.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in raising climate awareness, shifting behaviors, or reducing environmental impact or harm? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had¡, and/or what impact do you envision having in the future?
This partnership exists because each organisation already delivers measurable, credible impact. Fast & Free brings together and scales what works. Track Academy's most recent report: 331 young people engaged. 87% gained new skills; 89% made new friends; 78% improved stress management; 89% felt community belonging. Schools confirm: "Track Academy has been life changing for some of these boys - on the verge of prison before joining." My Choice Trek UK partnership proves they reach those excluded from cycling. Their Hackney Cycle Hub engaged in 2024-25 >350 participants (last year - 53% Asian heritage, 36% Black heritage and 11% White); women are now their largest cohort. Evidence of listening, adapting and tracking. Possible measures climate behaviour change with rigour. Their Car Free Cities campaign saw 98% of 1,000 pilot participants plan to permanently reduce car use. Their Fixing Factory - in a diverse, working-class community - delivered hundreds of free repairs, revived a derelict high street and trained young volunteers into employability. Fast & Free will deliver: Concrete outputs: • 50+ young people from low-income Brent families. • Weekly sessions: learn to ride, traffic skills, maintenance, progressive rides. • Long youth-organised journey completed. • Carbon savings tracked with Possible's data analyst support. Measurable outcomes • 36% reduction in "unable/not confident to ride" baseline. • Increased active travel and climate literacy. • Trained ride leaders, peer mentors, alumni coaches. Deep-rooted change Youth managing the programme independently. Track Academy's consistent staff support ensures legacy. Our young people will advocate for Brent infrastructure. Together we are scaling proven models.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Most cycling schemes teach bike skills. Most climate campaigns target the already-converted. Most youth programmes treat young people as beneficiaries, not leaders. Fast & Free does none of these. Our innovation is structural: we unite three proven organisations to shift who leads climate action and how. 1. We tackle root causes, not symptoms. Cycling culture, infrastructure and messaging exclude by race, gender, class. My Choice exists because mainstream cycling ignored Black and Asian riders. Track Academy exists because of inequalities for Brent youth. Possible exists because climate action excluded those outside the "green bubble." Together, we centre those historically locked out. 2. We apply proven approaches in a new context. Possible's Fixing Factory proved a derelict high street can become a community repair hub. My Choice's Hackney model proved Muslim women cycle in culturally safe spaces. Track Academy engages teenage girls at 63% of participants - against all sport trends. Fast & Free brings all three into Brent - creating London's first youth-led, anti-racist, community-owned active travel programme. 3. We shift norms, not just behaviours. Our goal is not simply more cyclists. It is young people—Ra'elle, Bishawna - advocating for Brent infrastructure with Possible's evidence, leading peer rides, managing a sustainable programme. A movement that outlasts the grant. Young people in Brent face car dependency, physical inactivity and social deprivation. We are delivering what works - together, for the first time, where it's needed most.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Track Academy (lead applicant) brings 17 years of trusted youth delivery in Brent. We recruit and retain participants - 85% from ethnic minorities, 45% low-income. Our Operations Manager & Youth Lead oversees logistics, safeguarding and venue hire at Willesden Sports Centre. Our Education & Mentoring Lead and Head of Sport coordinate sessional coaches and mentors, ensuring young people are supported before, during and after cycling sessions. Our Youth Ambassadors co-design activities and hold us to account. My Choice contributes their community-led cycling model. They design and lead all cycling content: learn-to-ride sessions, traffic skills, bike maintenance, progressive group rides. Their experienced instructors - many former participants themselves - model what representation looks like. My Choice and Track Academy practice their cultural, gender, ability sensitive approach, ensuring safe spaces for all. Possible brings rigorous climate and public comms expertise . They engage ordinary people in new models of creative climate action that turn barriers to change into opportunities for scaling action. Their anti-oppression framework ensures equity remains central. Together, we’ll meet fortnightly as a partnership steering group. Track Academy chairs; My Choice leads on cycling delivery; Possible advises on climate outcomes and comms. Decisions are shared. Budget is jointly managed. All three are committed beyond this bid to support the community.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your organization up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
Fast & Free is designed to outlast any funding cycle. Our sustainability rests on four pillars: 1. Partner commitment beyond the grant. Track Academy, My Choice and Possible are already aligned, with no duplication and strong mutual goals. Collaboration beyond this bid is inevitable. 2. Embedded in Brent's systems change infrastructure. Track Academy is a core member of Brent Active Together - a place based partnership. Our learning flows into borough-wide structures; our advocacy reaches Brent Council, housing and health partners through established relationships. When personnel change, the partnership endures. 3. Youth ownership as sustainability. Our explicit goal is youth managing the programme independently within three years. Track Academy's alumni network ensures skills and relationships stay in the community. When young people lead, the programme survives staff changes and funding gaps. 4. Codifying for scale. With Possible's evidence rigour and Track Academy's learning connections (Sovereign Network Group, London Youth, London Sport, Sported, etc.), we will document and share Fast & Free as a replicable model. Year 1: Brent pilot (50+ youth). Year 2: Refine with new cohort. Year 3: Share toolkit across networks nationwide. What we need: bikes, storage, instructor time. This grant provides that. Relationships, venues and systems infrastructure already exist.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/ to grow.
March - April 2026: Capacity building programme • Partnership attends 2-month programme: refine solution, foster collaborations, receive feedback. •Develop detailed delivery plan based on learning. •Strengthen MEL framework with Possible's evidence rigour. May - July 2026: Pre-Award setup (if invited to progress) • Finalise partnership agreement between Track Academy, My Choice and Possible. • In consultation with Trek and Cycling Instructor (existing Brent delivery org supportive of our project) procure bikes, locks, helmets and secure storage at Willesden Sports Centre. • Consultation: Youth Ambassador focus groups to co-design session format, route preferences, climate messaging. • Recruit initially 30+ young people from Track Academy and beyond - underserved Brent wards, prioritising those unable to ride. • Baseline survey: cycling confidence, active travel habits, climate literacy. August 2026 - July 2027: Delivery phase (12 months) Months 1-3: Foundation • Weekly sessions begin: learn-to-ride, traffic skills, maintenance. • My Choice trains Track Academy coaches in culturally sensitive, women-only approaches • Climate education launch: Possible leads interactive workshops on active travel, carbon savings, air quality - linking personal health to planetary health. • Young people begin logging active travel via Possible's tools. Months 4-6: Building confidence • Progressive “rides” introduced; peer mentoring begins. • Mid-point review: Youth Ambassadors co-lead reflection sessions, adapting session design based on lived experience. • Trained ride leaders identified from cohort. • Climate conversations embedded: Ride debriefs include discussion of safer routes, cleaner air, advocacy ideas. Months 7-9: Leadership in action • Youth-organised long journey - route planning, food stops, celebration led by participants. • Young people co-design and deliver climate messaging for social media, recruitment. • Community sharing: Participants present learning at Brent Active Together network event. Months 10-12: Legacy building • End-of-project impact assessment: 36% reduction in "unable to ride" baseline; increased active travel frequency; climate literacy gains • Toolkit drafted with Possible, incorporating youth voices • Sustainability plan agreed: youth leadership group constituted to manage programme beyond funding August 2027 onwards: Legacy • Alumni network sustains peer mentoring and climate advocacy. • Toolkit shared via Brent Active Together and nationally led by Possible. • Young people advocate for Brent infrastructure with Possible's evidence and support.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details (LINK).
All three partners operate at capacity. To participate fully in the 8-week capacity programme without compromising existing delivery to young people, we would need support for direct project costs and external expertise. If selected as a finalist, we request the following eligible expenditure: External facilitation and co-design support – A consultant to work alongside our partnership during the programme, helping us translate learning into a robust delivery plan, MEL framework, and sustainability roadmap. This ensures we maximise the opportunity without overburdening already-stretched staff from three partners. Estimated cost: £1,200. Exploring and engaging delivery partners – During the programme, we will build relationships with Brent-based organisations that can strengthen and sustain Fast & Free. For example Cycletastic (community bike project, learn-to-fix, Dr Bikes) and Cycling Instructor Ltd (accredited Bikeability training) are local providers we know and will consult, ensuring our model is connected to existing infrastructure and can draw on additional volunteer mechanics, maintenance expertise and accredited training capacity. Modest resource to visit, consult and co-design integration. Estimated cost: £500. Youth Ambassador involvement – expenses, travel, and refreshments for 5-10 young people to attend consultation and feedback sessions throughout the programme. Their voice is central to our model; this ensures they are present and valued. Estimated cost: £800. Travel and expenses – Cross-London travel for partnership meetings and programme attendance (excluding staff salaries). Estimated cost: £500. Contingency – Unforeseen direct project costs to ensure full participation. Estimated cost (10% of budget): £300. Total estimated request: £3,300.
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