Board Members
Anne Livingstone
Chairperson
Why did you choose to get involved with the board of Sunny Cycles?
I want to be involved in setting up this new charity for inclusive cycling. I want to be part of a board that will have regular, open AGMs, with transparency on fiscal matters, and one that is properly regulated. The current board is diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity, and is composed of people who are honest, decent and passionate about delivering our aims. It is also a board comprising people of various skills and experience, which will be invaluable in setting up Sunny Cycles and ensuring that it continues to deliver what it promises.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
I have volunteered at FWN for 7 years and have a vast knowledge of working with people with special needs, and with large school groups, who regularly use the track. I can match an indivivual with the bike/trike or adapted bike/trike that best suits their needs. I also have experience of working at the welcome desk, handling money, and coping on busy days with large queues. I can fix simple problems on bikes e.g. a loose chain. I have many years experience of taking out groups on led rides, and I also posses a first aid certificate. I have been told that I have a warm and welcoming manner, which is also an important factor, as we want to be sure that users enjoy their experience on the track. I can handle conflict when necessary, in a calm manner. Also, I have a keen eye for health and safety when on duty at the track.
Lynne Millar
Secretary
Why did you choose to get involved with the Board of Sunny Cycles?
Sunny cycles was set up by a group of volunteers like myself in response to maintaining and supporting staff (who were recently made redundant) to continue, with their much needed & valued work. In addition to the staff members there is a strong volunteer base who work alongside the staff members. I run Mount Vernon Cycling group, we have linked in with staff and volunteers during lead rides and we have always valued their experience. If there is anyway I can help this group adapt and thrive I'm in.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
I have Chaired the Mount Vernon Community Hall Management Committee for the last 3 1/2 years prior to that I was the secretary. I am Secretary of Glasgow Active East Community Sports Hub, Chair Friends of Mount Vernon Park and Secretary of Friends of Barrachnie Park group. I run Mount Vernon Cycling Group. I have experience in project managing, dealing with financial accounts, Mentoring groups, Social media, website, Funding applications. I am fairly adaptable and willing to learn.
Jo Donnelly
Treasurer
Why did you choose to get involved with the board of Sunny Cycles?
At a previous Cycling Charity, I was a service user for 5 years. I loved joining in with the Led Rides discovering safe cycle routes in Glasgow and beyond. That was how I was introduced back to cycling in my 60s. Eventually after encouragement, I bucked up the courage to take my ride leaders course, I passed! I was now qualified to lead cycle rides. Once again after encouragement and plucking up the courage, I volunteered at Glasgow Green cycle track. I received training on Health and Safety, First Aid Training.
The staff trained me on how to safely handle the bikes while taking them out and putting them back into storage, how to safely lift heavier equipment such as Go-carts. The biggest part of training process was learning how to assisting service users, of all ages and abilities, with physical, or learning disabilities. This included checking all bikes for safety, the brakes, the wheels, the saddle heights and straps on adapted bikes before they were used and making sure the service users were safe and comfortable for their ride. The staff were second to none in their professionalism and friendly approach to all.
They and the other volunteers helped me so much and taught me so much. When the Staff from the Green lost their jobs supporting them and joining them in their new venture, the charity Sunny Cycles was a no brainer. This is why I decided to join the board of Sunny Cycles.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
I bring the skills detailed above. I also bring a lifetime of experience helping out at children’s groups, school trips, helping to run summer play schemes, helping to run boys football teams, being a member of the school board, being the chair of the schools board, which included sitting on the panel to choose the new head master.
Professionally I have Secretarial qualifications. Bookkeeping qualifications, Account keeping experience including knowledge of spreadsheets. Was the secretary to a multinational company’s sales director. Have experiences in running my own businesses. I hope that some of my experience will be a help to Sunny Cycles.
Paul Clark
Why did you choose to get involved with the Board of Sunny Cycles?
Having been involved with the majority of staff and volunteers in a previous project I was happy to be involved in the new venture.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
Ride Leader helper, Mechanic (silver grade) , security consultant, general maintenance and odd jobber, photography (amateur but fine for ride log and social media) , some horticulture experience, & and last but not least, fresh ideas and prospective (good or bad ideas can generate discussion and growth)
Hazel Frew
Why did you choose to get involved with the Board of Sunny Cycles?
I decided to get involved with the board of Sunny Cycles as I saw the great potential a charity of this kind offers the citizens of Glasgow, not just for it’s service users, but for the volunteers as well. The ability to be involved in a charity that promotes improved general health via cycling but also gives people the opportunity to improve mental health while meeting new friends.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
I’m a keen cyclist as well as a trained cycle leader and therefore bring these skills to the Sunny Cycles, however on a professional level I have a background in HR / Payroll and have a wealth of staff management experience which Sunny Cycles can benefit from.
Dick Mann
Why did you choose to get involved with the Board of Sunny Cycles?
Previous experience with similar organisation.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
Many years experience working with small / medium companies setting up health and safety management policies and procedures. Have sat on numerous health and safety committees, helping make decisions on the safety and wellbeing of others in the workplace
Trained to be a trainer of other people: therefore experienced in communicating ideas, practical and theoretical matters to others.
Military background where I was required to draft rules, policies and procedures for a range of technical situations. Competent in drafting clear texts.
Trained Ride Leader to British Cycling standard
Francine Bucumi
Why did you choose to get involved with the Board of Sunny Cycles?
To support Sunny cycles to continue to provide cycling activities such as led ride, cycling lessons to those who under-represented in the community; and have no other access to those kind of activities. To support Sunny cycles to enable people to enjoy their lives and improve their health and wellbeing through cycling, meeting new people, reducing isolation and discovering the city history in an enjoyable atmosphere and nice company.
What skills and experience do you bring to Sunny Cycles?
I am a big fan of supporting the community I live in, especially when it comes to supporting people who are under-represented (including people with learning difficulties, young people, older people, ex-offenders, people with addiction and asylum seekers & refugees). I have a good knowledge of community development work and has been involve in several community projects as a paid worker and volunteer. I have been a board director in the past for 2 organisations and I was honoured to be vice chair for one of them. It was rewarding to be able to support those organisations and their service users in a successful way. I am hoping to be able to do the same for sunny cycles and I am looking forward to celebrating positive outcomes from the valuable work we will be supporting.