Development Ratings

Riders has fundraising branches in Europe, the US, and Australia. Support is also given by motorcycle-related corporations. The Colemans were awarded the Schwab and Skoll Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2005/6; they are increasingly involved in fundraising and advocacy through this developing social entrepreneur network. Riders benefitted from the BBC Lifeline Appeal (2006) and The Times Christmas Appeal (2007).

Riders is seeking large-scale funding to operate at a level appropriate to the needs of national health ministries and development agencies, potentially throughout Africa. This is dependant on increasing the charity’s size, funding and operational capacity. The wish list includes funds for monitoring and evaluation, field training for apprentices, to buy motorcycles, to provide training in riding skills and maintenance, and to buy tools. It wants to fund the running costs for Riders-owned Gambian motorcycles to ensure best operational cost-effectiveness and flexibility. (Owning the motorcycles means they can be withdrawn as they become less cost-efficient.) Riders also wants to develop an exchange programme between African and UK employees, and to provide bursaries to support groups such as Kenyan HIV women or Zimbabwean child-headed households. Funding was received to run the Academy for a period for technician training.