How to form a new CTC Member Group
Somewhere over the rainbow - cyclists admiring stunning scenery
Forming a new CTC Member Group
CTC is always keen to encourage more people to cycle so, if you have a group of people you ride with regularly and you are worried about the insurance and other aspects of it, then we offer two solutions to the problem:
- become a CTC Member Group, either formally or informally; or
- become a CTC Affiliated Club
What are the benefits of becoming a CTC Member Group?
In addition to benefiting from over 128 years of experience in organising group rides and events, CTC Member Groups enjoy the following:
- Free Organisers’ Liability insurance up to £10 million
This covers anybody who leads rides, organises events or is an officer of any Member Group and gives you peace of mind that in the unlikely event of there being an incident, you have the backing of CTC, as long as the ride/event is run in accordance with CTC guidelines.
- Free publicity for your event or ride
In CTC’s magazine ‘Cycle’ , on our website and in our newsletters
- Free CTC publicity materials for your event
We have membership leaflets, banners, cycling publications and more that you can use to encourage more people to take up riding their bikes
- A £200 grant per year
To help with promoting your Group, with the chance to apply for further funding from CTC Council for special projects
- Entry to CTC’s annual Tourist Competition
Groups of riders from different areas compete against each other in a range of events, with certificates and medallions on offer to entrants
- A regular, monthly list of CTC members
CTC Member Groups can apply for an ‘allocation’ of postcodes in their area so that they receive a monthly mailing list of CTC members, which can be used for publicising your rides and events to a wider audience.
- Insurance for 'guest' riders
People can ride for up to 5 times with your group before being asked to become a CTC member for insurance purposes - as members of CTC they are automatically covered by 3rd party insurance and receive free legal aid.
- A free regular, monthly e-newsletter
‘ClubShorts’ is sent to all CTC Member Group officers to let them know what is going on at CTC and has other items of news and special offers from the world of cycling
- A dedicated member of CTC staff to answer queries and help with all aspects of running your Member Group
Contact Member Group Co-ordinator Julie Rand on 01483 238308 or by emailing groups@ctc.org.uk
How to form a new Member Group
In order to qualify for the above, all we ask in return is that your Group abides by the guidelines laid down in CTC’s Policy Handbook. This includes appointing a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as other officers. And we’d also like you to hold an AGM every October and complete a short Annual Return and a set of accounts afterwards so we know what your Group has been up to over the previous 12 months.
Information on exactly how to go about forming the Group is included in the Policy Handbook or contact Julie Rand for further information and advice.
If you think the above bureaucracy would be too much for your Group to cope with, but you would still like to be part of the CTC family, the other option is to become an informal CTC Member Group – in order to this, you must be connected to a formal Group which will have control over your activities but otherwise there is no other paperwork to deal with. However, your Group will not be eligible for some of the benefits listed above such as the grant.
Cyclists from Cycle Bristol CTC on a club ride
