herne hill velodrome: cycling for everyone - our opportunity funds

At HHV we try to keep our prices affordable to ensure that as many people as possible can come along to our sessions on a regular basis as part of their active routine. However, we recognise that cycling is an expensive sport & hobby, so this page lists some of the different schemes, grants and other ways we are doing as much as possible to help more people than ever be able to enjoy cycling at HHV and beyond.

If you’re an individual or company who wants to support any of our affordability schemes, please get in touch with Thea Smith, Cycling Development Manager on tsmith@hhvt.org

A quick overview of what you’ll find on this page:

Apply for one of our opportunity fund discount schemes
 
 

student discount

 

Got a valid student ID card? Fill out our application form and get 15% discount on our cycling sessions.

 

  • We will accept a valid NUS card or University / College card.

  • If you want to ride track you’ll need to do a Track Taster first - then you can attend skills sessions. Adult Off-Road sessions are open to anyone, you don’t need a taster. We also have Road Bike Riding sessions if you just want to come and ride laps on your own bike.

  • We can’t offer extra discounts on yoga, pilates or strength sessions, or on bike hire or racing.

Apply Here
 
 

sibling discount

 

Cycling is fun when done together! Thanks to our funding from the Rapha Foundation, we are pleased to be able to offer a 20% discount when multiple siblings are booked on to the same session.

Email Tianne (tbell@hhvt.org) directly with the heading ‘sibling discount’ to access this scheme.

 

    • This is valid for all youth cycling sessions where multiple siblings are booked onto the same session.

    • It’s not valid for racing.

  • It costs us a lot to maintain off-road bikes so these aren’t free but are discounted with your access code.

    Track bike hire remains free for all track sessions, however you can’t race with our hire bikes (except for youth and Women’s C category).

 

opportunity funds for low income families & adults

 

We have created an Opportunity Fund to enable those on low incomes to access cycling at HHV. This is a discretionary fund available to provide some relief from financial hardship to parents or carers of young riders, or to adults, who want to participate in cycling sessions at HHV.

The fund will provide discounted entry to cycling sessions, with 40% discount for individuals and for youths, an additional 20% for siblings attending the same session.

 

  • To be considered for the Opportunity Fund you must be:

    • the parent/carer/responsible adult for a youth rider (under 18) attending youth cycling sessions at HHV

    • in receipt of free school meals (Year 3 and above)

    • eligible for pupil premium at your child’s school

    • currently receiving one or more of the following benefits

      • Income support

      • Income-based jobseekers allowance

      • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

      • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

      • Child tax credit 

      • Working tax credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

      • Universal credit 

  • To be considered for the Opportunity Fund you must be currently receiving one or more of the following benefits:

    • Income support

    • Income-based jobseekers allowance

    • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

    • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

    • Working tax credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

    • Universal credit

  • Application for the fund (both for youth and adult schemes) is via this link. We will be in touch after you have received your application and ask for one of the following evidence:

    In support of your application you will need one or more of the following:

    • a copy of your letter from your local authority or school confirming your child’s eligibility for free meals at school (years 3 and above)

    • a copy of a letter from your child’s school confirming your child’s eligibility for Pupil Premium

    • Other documentary evidence of your eligibility for means-tested benefits eg Universal Credit or social care status 

    If successful, your discount code will be linked to your eventrac profile, which you can then copy and paste into session bookings.

    The scheme is reviewed on an annual basis, so please don’t be offended if we ask for evidence again in the future.

  • This applies to all our cycling sessions: track , offroad & road cycling.

    It doesn’t currently apply to any of our yoga, Pilates or strength & conditioning sessions.

    TBC on racing.

  • We regularly receive donations of good quality cycling kit from well-known cycling brands as well as from members of our community. Please speak to Thea and/or write what you need in the application form.

Apply here
 

emergency access fund & other discounts

 

Occasionally there are circumstances where we are able to grant access to the opportunity fund without the documentation listed above. If you think that this might apply to you please fill in the form below.

 
Learn more
 

Frequently asked questions

 

  • Once you’ve filled out the form and emailed us your documentation, you need to create an account on our booking system to be able to access your discount. You can browse our sessions to decide where to start.

    Track Cycling is our staple activity - we are a velodrome after all! You’ll need to do a track taster first, and then the coaches can recommend which skills session is right for you.

    Off-road cycling includes Mountain Biking, Cyclocross and Gravel Clubs - you don’t need a mandatory ‘taster’ session to take part in these.

  • We have bikes, helmets and gloves you can borrow to take part in the session, so the only thing you need to bring is yourself.

    If you can, bring a water bottle and snacks as cycling is a physically demanding activity.

 

  • Most people claiming UC or pupil premium should be able to log in to their account online and show us proof of receipt - you don’t necessarily need to have physical letters.

  • We’re an outdoor velodrome with an all-weather track surface, so we don’t stop for a bit of rain! Make sure you check the weather before you set off, and bring the appropriate layers.

    You can ride all our beginner sessions with standard activewear - you don’t need special kit to take part. However if you decide to progress in the sport, kit becomes more essential - however we are able to help with donations from our supporters Rapha, so speak to coaches or email Thea (address in the section at the top) to ask about access to kit.