…rules that commit the club to providing inclusive access for everyone, and as a result we have a thriving junior section and 25% of our membership is female (pretty unusual for a cycling club). We also have rules and structures in place for child protection, which is another positive feature when you are coaching and working with kids.
Having a formal structure helps us to access external funding, and as a consequence we have been able to get some serious money for great development work which will increase participation even more through coaching and running events.
With a committee and AGM, all of this is transparently managed, so if members are unhappy with what is going on, they can vote to change it.
Ultimately, all of this is born out of a bunch of people who love riding bikes, and that’s still the driving force behind the club. We’re just able to do a lot more as a formal club than we could as a loose collection of individuals.