The Annual Ride and Stride –Saturday 10 September 2011

This is the Friends of SomersetChurches and Chapels most important fund raising event. It is part of a muchwider National Churches Trust event with county trusts from all over thecountry taking part.  Churches andChapels of all denominations can take part and cyclists and walkers of all agesare able to take part. The whole community can be involved.

How does it work?

Participantson cycles, foot or horseback get themselves sponsored to visit as many churchesand chapels as they think they are able to achieve. Sponsorship can be perchurch or chapel visited, or as a lump sum. On the day, many churches andchapels will display a registration form on which to record visits. There maybe refreshments and a steward present to countersign sponsorship forms. Everychurch or chapel visited and recorded on the sponsorship form, whether open or not,counts towards sponsorship. Make up your own route or join one that’s alreadyhappening.

Cars or public transport may beused to get to the start of a route and/or home from the end. If you cannotcycle or walk round your chosen route because of age or infirmity you may visitthe churches by car and make a donation on the Sponsor Form. If you do this,you must check with your motor insurers that you are covered for this.

When does it take place?

This year’s event is on Saturday10^th September 2011.

What happens to the money raised?

If requested, half of the moneyraised is returned to the church, chapel or Registered Charity nominated by theindividual cyclist or walker and the other half goes to the FSCC, or the entireamount can be given to the FSCC. The FSCC then awards grants to churchesapplying for help with repairs. During the past decade FSCC has given almost£400,000 to over 200 restoration projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I take part on another day?  If you can’t make Saturday 10^th September then you may undertake your walk or ride on any day from Saturday 3^rd September to Sunday 18^th September. Remember though that some churches may not be open and it is unlikely that they will be stewarded.

• Can I raise money for another organisation? As well as churches and chapels taking part any charitable organisation may participate and nominate their own organisation for the 50% return of sponsorship money collected.  

• Can I donate all of my sponsorship to FSCC? Individual participants or groups are very welcome with 100% of sponsorship raised being for the benefit of the Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels.

• How do I know where events are taking place? If you don’t want to design your own route locations of  Local Coordinators will be published so you can join in with established groups.

• Can I raise money on line? FSCC has a JustGiving website. Visit the website and create your own sponsorship page.

Risk Assessment

Whilst it is not a legal or insurance requirement, if you are organising anevent involving a large group of people, particularly where children are takingpart, you should carry out some form of risk assessment just to ensure thatyour day goes off smoothly and without mishap. To make this easy we haveproduced a generic risk assessment covering cycling, walks, horse riding andvehicles. Click on General Risk Assessment below to open the form. You do nothave to follow this to the letter but use this as the basis for your ownindividual event and tailor it as you think reasonable commensurate with thehazards on your route.

All of the documentation required for 2011 can be downloaded below:

Instructions   Poster   Join Us   Sponsorship Form   Register of Visitors   Remittance Form   Flier

What's happening near you       General Risk Assessment   List of Anglican Churches in Somerset

Further information: If you want more information contact the Coordinator:
Chris Hawkings, Telephone: 01749 672327 Email: fscandcinfo@gmail.com