British Cycling membership has decreased by over 8% this year, but the governing body believes that it has “started to cultivate seeds of growth” as it has its first financial surplus in five years.
The Federation published its annual report and financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025, which revealed that membership numbers had fallen from 128,663 to 117,475.
However, it also reveals a 1.6% increase in membership income.
In addition, revenue from sponsorship and rights fees has increased by £2.8m, from £2.52m in 2024 to £5.33m. This includes the new long-term partnership in which Lloyds Bank became the Lead Partner, as well as new partnerships with Elixrr, ALE, Kettle, Coral Eyewear and CSW.
Other partnerships, such as the controversial deal with Shell that led to a drop in memberships, have also contributed to this.
Partnership income, from public sector funding in addition to Sport England and UK Sport has also increased by £1.1m. This is largely due to the £1.38m generated from the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men and Women 2024 events.
The chair, Frank Slevin, said: “I am proud to report that we have continued to weather harsh economic storms and have started to cultivate seeds of growth, with the Federation generating a surplus for the first time since 2020/21.
“This growth can be attributed to an innovative new commercial strategy which has marked a new era of relevance and resonance for British Cycling.
“It has helped to unlock our game-changing partnership with Lloyds and a raft of new partners, whilst also driving an increase in Membership revenue for the first time since Covid, thanks to our new, modernised proposition.”
The governing body has a new company structure, which is broken down into three elements. This includes British Cycling, which is the not-for-profit Federation governed by the British Cycling Board.
The Great British Cycling Team won a total of 33 Olympic and Paralympic medals from Paris 2024, and rainbow jerseys from around the globe. The report said that they had a “incredibly positive ‘winning but winning well’ sentiment embedded across the whole team.”
They have also been leading work on developing concussion protocol, maternity and post-partum support and a women-specific back pain project.
Another element is British Cycling Events, which is the commercial entity which delivers events such as the Lloyds Tour of Britian Men and Women.
They made a deficit this year, but the report claims that it “is part of our investment to grow our sport”.
The final element is the British Cycling Foundation, which is the independent charitable arm, which is “a gateway to better health, stronger communities, and a brighter future”.
Jon Dutton OBE, the CEO said: “This year has been a testament to our resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to bringing the joy of cycling to everyone.
“Despite a challenging economic landscape, our collective efforts have yielded remarkable achievements, both on and off the field of play.
“Our ambitious ‘programme of change’ which set out to modernise the organisation has not only strengthened our financial position but has paved the way for sustainable growth and development.
“We have successfully increased the proportion of our commercially generated income, with Lloyds and out wider family of partners supporting the ambitions of our long-term major events vision and social impact programme which is unmatched to that of any other sporting body.”
“Without challenge there is no achievement and together, we will continue to pedal towards a positive and prosperous future.”
9 thoughts on “British Cycling loses 11,000 members, but governing body insists 2024/5 still a “positive year” with first financial surplus in five years”
I’m a Green party member, and
I’m a Green party member, and a Greenpeace member. I could not in good conscience remain a member of an organisation that helps greenwash the likes of Shell, Lloyds and Ford. All three play a role in making cycling less safe and less enjoyable, whether that’s extracting and selling fossil fuels, funding that extraction, or promoting bigger more dangerous vehicles to drivers which they have no need for but make the streetscape more dangerous for vulernable road users.
Obviously that’s ignoring the wider implications of the climate emergency.
It must be great being so
Not sure it’s reasonable to claim that Lloyds are promoting any kind of vehicle. They just provide finance.
open_roads wrote:
“Just” provide finance. That’s not something my bank does, and nor do I want my membership dues to help greenwash the activities of a bank that does do it. I did say “funding that extraction” as part of my list.
Next time you are buying hemp
All banks lend. There isn’t one retail bank that doesn’t provide lending that finances vehicle leasing or purchases in some shape or form.
open_roads wrote:
I don’t see what your point is.
Are you saying because all banks lend I shouldn’t seek out as ethical a bank as possible, and do everything in my power to avoid those which would help finance the climate crisis?
Next time you are buying hemp
.
British Cycling cares only
British Cycling cares only about its corporate image, money and profits. And doesn’t give a fig about cyclists. Unless they win silverware and colect gold medals.
Attached file aims to put things into perspective when it comes to “climate emergencies”
MaxiMinimalist wrote:
The big freeze here is the period of economic depression and an Energy Crisis that affected the US and other countries in the early 70s. What an excellent way to out yourself as ill-informed.
Attached image shows a pattern of climate change, specifically in the UK (to illustrate this is not just a problem in some other part of the world).
I’m a BC member still. But
I’m a BC member still. But then I need to be for my race licence and coaching qualifications.