For the past four years, CAN has been able to support our networks throughout New Zealand with staff and offices in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. We're grateful for the support of the NZ Transport Agency in helping to achieve this. However, this arrangement has come to an end and we have reviewed our ability to provide the same level of support. Extensive investigations during the past two years have failed to find sufficient alternative sources of funding to maintain the same level of support. As a result, our existing contracts with staff will finish this month. The message from attendees of our recent CAN Do workshop was clear. They wish to retain some level of staff and office support. The considerable media attention on cycling in recent weeks demonstrated the value of having that resource. Note that the volunteer support that CAN has provided from day one will continue. This does rely on our members, friends and supporters doing just a little bit each can make quite a difference. In order to maintain an office and paid staff to work with local groups, the media and to deliver services such as cycling skills training, we need to raise a minimum of $80,000 each year. We are proud of CAN's achievements over the past 14 years, and, with your help, look forward to achieving our vision: more people on bikes, more often. |