The Annual Ride and Stride - 11th September 2010
This is the Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels most important fund raising event. It is part of a much wider National Churches Trust event with county trusts from all over the country taking part. Churches and Chapels of all denominations can take part and cyclists and walkers of all ages are able to take part. The whole community can be involved.
How does it work?
Participants on cycles, foot or horseback get themselves sponsored to visit as many churches and chapels as they think they are able to achieve. Sponsorship can be per church or chapel visited, or as a lump sum. On the day, many churches and chapels will display a registration form on which to record visits. There may be refreshments and a steward present to countersign sponsorship forms. Every church 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 already happening. Car or public transport may be used to get to the start of a route and/or home from the end. If you cannot cycle or walk round your chosen route because of age or infirmity you may visit the 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 Saturday 11th September 2010. What happens to the money raised? If requested, half of the money raised is returned to the church or chapel nominated by the individual cyclist or walker and the other half goes to the FSCC, or the entire amount can be given to the FSCC. The FSCC then awards grants to churches applying for help with repairs. Since the FSCC's foundation in 1996 the Ride and Stride has raised over £300,000. |  |
What's new for 2010?
| Choose you own day. If you can't make Saturday 11th September then you may undertake your walk or ride on any day from Saturday 4th September to Sunday 19th September. Remember though that some churches may not be open and it is unlikely that they will be stewarded. | |
| Raise money for your own organisation. As well as churches and chapels taking part any charitable organisation may enter a team and nominate their own organisation for the 50% return of sponsorship money collected. | |
| Do your own thing. Individual participants are also very welcome with 100% of sponsorship raised being for the benefit of the Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels. | |
| Join in with others. Contact details of Local Coordinators will be published so that you can join in with established groups. | |
| Give online. This year it will be possible for participants to raise sponsorship on a Just Giving website. |
Risk Assessment
If you are organising an event involving a group of people, particularly where children are taking part,you do need to carry out some form of risk assessment just to ensure that your day goes off smoothly and without mishap. To make this easy we have produced a generic risk assessment covering cycling, walks, horse riding and vehicles. Click on General Risk Assessment below to open the form. You do not have to follow this to the letter but use this as the basis for your own individual event and tailor it as you think reasonable commensurate with the hazards on your route.
Forms
All of the documentation required for 2010 can be downloaded below:
Instructions Poster Join Us Sponsorship Form Register of Visitors Remittance Form Flier What's happening near you Wells cycle ride route General Risk Assessment List of Anglican Churches in Somerset Further informationIf you want more information contact the County Coordinator:
Chris Hawkings, Telephone: 01749 672327
Email: fscandcinfo@googlemail.com