A life-changing Sunderland cycling group is celebrating

Gateway Wheelers, based in Houghton-le-Spring, has been named Limitless Club of the Year, supported by Bikmo, at the 2026 British Cycling Awards, presented by Lloyds, a category that honours clubs actively supporting disabled people. 

Sara Bateman has been the Lead Project Officer at Gateway Wheelers since 2020, rebuilding the club after COVID wiped out much of its support structures. 

Bateman, along with the group’s trustees and volunteers, will receive the award in Manchester on 14 November 2026. 

“I think with me, it's recognition of all the hard work that I've put in to get the club going again and to offer more,” the 50-year-old said. 
 

“The club itself, because we're so niche, sometimes you think ‘are we doing it right, does anybody know what we actually offer’? 

“Winning this award is recognition that we are doing something right and people are paying attention to what we're doing.” 

Gateway Wheelers is now in its 30th year and supports around 200 unique users to get involved with cycling. 

The group works with a variety of people, including stroke survivors, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools and groups, and also supporting organisations and councils with making active travel more accessible. 

They offer bike maintenance for those with their own accessible cycles, as well as nurturing those with a passion for mechanics.

Bateman and Gateway Wheelers have even gone so far as to support the charity Rise North East to deliver a Mario Kart experience for 60 SEND students.

They have over 50 accessible cycles on offer, from two-wheelers to trikes and go-karts, and run regular Everybody Cycles sessions.

Bateman added: “We don't promise miracles, so we may get it slightly wrong the first one or two times because we've got such a selection of cycles.

“We may get the wrong one, but then we'll change it. 
We've never had a case where we haven't gotten someone cycling.

“We don't see people with disabilities here. Everyone is good at something, and that's where we can pick up what are you good at?

“We've had members as well who then become volunteers. We’ve had people whose confidence and belief in themself have transformed.  

“One person who said he would never cycle, we got him on a hand bike and his confidence completely changed. Now he volunteers with us, and he is a showman, and the kids just ignore me and listen to him!”

The British Cycling Awards presented by Lloyds is celebrating those inspiring individuals who have brought the joy of cycling to communities across the country, through their performance on the global stage, to their tireless work at grassroots level. See how you can join the movement of cycling by visiting britishcycling.org.uk