Organisations:
Basildon University Hospital, in partnership with Active Essex, Essex County Council, Basildon Borough Council, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, The Active Wellbeing Society and more.
Supporting Active Travel for Staff:
Basildon University Hospital is part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), an anchor organisation with an ambition to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of local people and tackle inequalities in their local community.
Over the last year, Basildon University Hospital has teamed up in an ambitious regional partnership with Active Essex, Essex County Council, The Active Wellbeing Society, Basildon Borough Council, Sport England, and London Marathon Foundation to support active travel for their staff.
The concept is simple – they have provided over 150 new, quality bikes for free to lower income staff.
The results? Through this initiative they have not only seen an increase in active travel, but have also supported staff facing cost of living pressures by reducing commuting costs, and reduced emissions by cutting car journeys. Read on to find out more about the programme.
Background to project
The Basildon University Hospital bike giveaway is being delivered as part of Essex Pedal Power – a flagship community cycling programme providing over 4,000 new bikes to boost cycling in low-income areas across the county in order to improve health, increase active travel, and strengthen community cohesion.
Essex Pedal Power began as a partnership between the Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot, Essex County Council, The Active Wellbeing Society and other key partners. The first bikes distributed were to eligible residents in Clacton and Jaywick Sands in 2021. Due to its success the programme has since been rolled out to additional areas across the region, including Colchester, Basildon, Harwich and Dovercourt, and Canvey Island.
In addition to the free bikes, residents receive wrap-around support including access to free learn to ride lessons, bike maintenance, and community-led rides.
Partnership-working around shared priorities
As Essex Pedal Power goes from strength to strength, innovative new partnerships continue to be developed between local anchor organisations in the region around the initiative. This is creating more opportunities for joint action around shared priorities.
One such example is Essex Pedal Power Basildon – which saw Essex Pedal Power working with Basildon Borough Council, MSEF Trust, and Basildon University Hospital to deliver bikes to lower income staff working in the hospital.
These staff are more likely to work shift patterns and as a result are often unable to rely on public transport to and from the hospital during off peak hours. The cost of travelling to work can significantly impact their income. However a high percentage of these employees also live within cycling distance of the hospital making them ideal candidates for the Essex Pedal Power initiative.
“Essex Pedal Power has helped Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust to meet its (Anchor) ambition to be a good employer by supporting its staff working at lower pay bands in Basildon, who feel the impact of the continuing cost of living crisis most keenly, to reduce their outgoings avoiding car journeys and car parking.” Charlotte Williams, Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust
Impact of the project
Initial data is showing that this initiative is having a positive impact on a number of key anchor pillars.
- Reducing environmental impact: Average car journeys per week were reduced by 50% for employees who received a bike – reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and lowering congestion.
- Supporting the health and wellbeing of staff: the number of staff who are physically active has increased, and participating staff have reported a reduction in feelings of anxiety, and a 9% increase in life satisfaction.
- Increased retention of lower income staff
- Increased community trust and connectedness, as well as volunteering opportunities: there has been real passion that has grown around Essex Pedal Power creating a community of engaged volunteers supporting the delivery of the programme.
“My travel time to work has decreased and helped me to conserve my energy for the 12 hour shift. Because of this, there’s no need for me to wake up very early to prepare for work and cycling also became a form of my exercise. I am grateful for the opportunity given to me.” Quote from bike recipient
After the successful outcome of Phase 1 of the initiative in 2023, the project was re-launched over the summer of this year to provide even more bikes to hospital employees on Bands 2 – 4.
What advice do you have for others?
“Identify people within your organisation who are effective collaborators and have a passion to drive positive change at both a system level and for individuals. Buy-in from the NHS Trust, as well as support from local authorities, is critical for the successful delivery of a multi-agency project such as Essex Pedal Power.” Lydia Smith, Essex Pedal Power Coordinator, The Active Wellbeing Society
“Having a strong partnership means you are more likely to receive and better placed to respond to unique requests and challenges that come your way, such as improvements to street lighting, access to facilities and funding.” Tom Oliver, Active Environments Coordinator, Basildon Borough Council
Visit Active Essex to find out more