Suffolk Free Wheels

Evaluation in progress, expected completion June 2027

At a glance

Suffolk County Council are rolling out the ‘Suffolk Free Wheels’ intervention in Spring 2026. The intervention comprises a free cycle loan to students in Years 5 and 6 (the final years of primary school), alongside skills training, including Learn to Ride and Bikeability Level 1 & 2 for students, Learn to Fix training for parent/carers, and Family Cycling Confidence to both groups. Students will retain the cycles until they leave primary school at the end of Year 6, when they will be serviced and passed on to the incoming Year 5s. The intervention will offer up to 400 loaned cycles, targeting in the initial roll-out Year 5 students in 10-15 primary schools within or adjacent to the most deprived Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in Suffolk. The aim of the intervention is to provide students with access to cycles and training (including for their parents/carers) to encourage mode shift to cycle to school and increase levels of active travel and physical activity amongst students.  It is hoped that the intervention will generate lasting behaviour change within communities that are least physically active and experience the greatest health inequalities.    

What does the evaluation mean for Local Government?

Less than half of UK children meet the level of physical activity set out in UK Government Guidance (at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day). The aim of the study is to conduct a process and impact evaluation to understand impact on mode shift to active school travel, physical activity levels, and the health and wellbeing of young people. The evaluation will also aim to examine how Free Wheels is implemented in practice. This will support the identification of lessons and recommendations for any future (wider) roll out of the intervention.  

How are the public involved in the study?

Public Involvement in the study is overseen by Insight’s PCIEP manager (Nina Pugh) and a member of our management group (Christina Stokes). The study management group is also attended by a Head teacher of one of the participating schools, to advise on all aspects of the evaluation, not least data collection methods. 

 We have also undertaken public involvement activity with a group of Y5 students at one of the participating schools, piloting our recruitment information and data collection tools. The young people suggested several amendments to these, which we have taken on board. We have also shared our recruitment and information materials with parents of Y5 students and again, amended these tools based on their advice. 

 Towards the end of the study, we will work with parents and students at participating schools to co-develop public-facing outputs describing the results of the study.