North West commuters could save £1,221 by cycling to work

NEW Research from Blackhawk Network (BHN) shows that workers in the North West are getting on their bikes in an effort to beat the cost of living crisis. During this cost of living crisis, employees in The North West are feeling most concerned and anxious over:- utility bills (68%), groceries (52%) and fuel and travel costs (45%)

Cycling to work helps save, on average, £1,221 a year on commuting costs, £494 more than in 2022.

51% of North West employees would be more likely to return to the office if their employer offered a Cyclescheme.

49% of North West employees have considered or are considering starting to cycle to work.

60% of UK respondents associate being overwhelmed, anxious, or sad with costs for commuting to work.

A change as simple as taking up cycling to work could provide North West employees with an average annual saving of £1,221 – an increase of over £494 in the last year alone. Such crucial savings come at a time when the country is facing a cost of living crisis, leaving many concerned, anxious, and annoyed over the cost of travel. These findings come from research conducted by the BHN in partnership with Sapio for the 11th Cycle to Work Day.

Simple changes for mega savings... For those up and down the country worried about the unnecessary additional burden brought on by travel during these challenging financial times, hundreds of pounds of savings will be warmly welcomed. However, according to BHN's recent research, not even a quarter of people (23%) were fully aware of how much they spend commuting and therefore the majority, do not know the extent of the savings that could be made.

With costs for everything rising around the UK, travel has been no exception. In 2022, on average, employees could save £750 a year by cycling to work. This year, that has skyrocketed to £1,262, a figure which increases to £1,600 for those commuting within Greater London; compared to £1,400, in 2022. The expenses brought on by commuting cause a wide range of negative emotions, with 3 in 5 (59%) respondents saying they feel overwhelmed, anxious, annoyed, angry, sad, or worried about the costs.

You can get your staff back into the office by putting wheels in motion... A key focus for employers in 2023 is trying to persuade their employees to return to the office more often. Most of the respondents (97%) live and work within the same Region, which makes cycling eminently possible.

Employers can encourage this shift back to the office by offering their staff salary sacrifice schemes that will help them cycle to work more often and significantly cut their travel costs. On average, over a quarter of employees (27%) say that cycling to work can help them reduce costs; with this number highest in the West Midlands (34%).

In fact, BHN's survey has found that 51% of North West employees would be more likely to come back into the office if their employers offered a Cycle to Work Scheme as part of their benefits package. Cyclescheme, the UKs leading Cycle to Work Provider; part of the BHN Extras employee benefits platform; can help staff save 25% to 39% on a bike and accessories. But most importantly, for 1 in 5, this would help remove the main barrier that stops them from cycling to work: they simply don't have a bike.

People want to get on their bike... With commuting still a necessary part of many people's weeks, employees are re-examining their travel options, looking for ways they can cut costs. This includes the 85% of train commuters who have noticed an increase in the average daily cost of train tickets compared to a year ago. Now, more than half (55%) of commuting employees have changed, or are considering changing, their daily commute; and for a majority (60%), this means using a different mode of transport.

23% of respondents have started walking or cycling more than using a car or public transport in a bid to save money. 49% of North West commuters have started or are considering cycling to work, with the cost of the travel as the main reason. This is an increase from 47% from 2022.

Adrian Warren, Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance and Director of Cyclescheme at BHN said:- "Financially, this has been a troubling year for almost everyone in the country. With the costs of living rising universally, employees are looking for ways to save money, and travel costs are an easy target. Fortunately, for employers who are trying to get their employees back into the office; they hold the keys to the solution. This year is the 11th Cycle to Work Day, a day that has helped millions of commuters get on their bikes. By slashing the costs of getting a bike through this salary sacrifice scheme, BHN Extras is removing 1 of the biggest obstacles stopping employees cycling and helping to fill up offices again."

To find out more about Cycle to Work Day visit:- BlackHawkNetworkExtras.Co.UK.

About BHN Extras... BHN Extras is a leading, cost effective, employee engagement and benefits platform. It's a simple, straightforward, no hassle way to offer employees a comprehensive range of flexible, personalised workplace benefits that support their mental, physical and financial wellbeing. Benefits include:- Cyclescheme, Techscheme, Byond cashback card, Extras Discounts, MyGymDiscounts and more. Find out more, visit:- BHNExtras.Co.UK.

Air guns, crossbows and catapults - RSPCA reveals shocking animal attacks

LETHAL weapons including:- crossbows, air guns, catapults and slingshots are being used to deliberately target and kill wildlife and pets, new data from the RSPCA reveals.

The animal charity has unveiled shocking new figures relating to deadly weapons used on animals over the past 4 years; with a horrifying crossbow attack on a squirrel 1 of the most recent attacks.

Since the beginning of 2020 (up to to May 2023), the RSPCA received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with a weapon. Air guns and rifles were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, with 658 reports made to the charity; but weapons such as catapults and slingshots accounted for a combined 124 incidents while there were 34 calls to the RSPCA about crossbow incidents.

Many incidents reported to the charity involve more than 1 animal being targeted at a time.

Top county hotspots calling the RSPCA to report incidents of animals attacked with weapons were:- Kent (56 reports), Greater London (47), Merseyside (35) and jointly West Yorkshire (30), Nottinghamshire (30) and West Midlands (30).

The UK's under threat wildlife tragically bore the brunt of the attacks, with 841 wild birds; including waterfowl and marine birds; shot by a gun or crossbow or hit by a catapult since the beginning of 2020. Shockingly, pet cats were also a prime target, with 262 cats deliberately attacked with weapons, followed by wild mammals (82), dogs (59), farm animals (41) and equines (26).

The charity has released the heartbreaking figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse; like deadly weapon attacks.

RSPCA Chief Inspector for Merseyside Brett Witchalls said:- "It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for 'fun' - or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports. We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCA's experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows. These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering. Day after day, our frontline Officers and animal Centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals; severe injuries often leading to death. And what we deal with is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found; especially in the case of wildlife. This is why we need our supporters to back our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign so we can tackle this horrific trend."

Examples of recent attacks include:-

• Air gun: Earlier this year, a buzzard was found shot in the head with an air rifle. Although the pellet missed her eye and skull, the wound had become an abscess and as the bird was emaciated it is likely she had been shot some time ago, preventing her from eating. Norfolk, April 2023.
   

• Catapult:- Groups of youths were reported repeatedly shooting nesting ducks and swans with catapults along the River Frome.
  Dorset, July 2023.
   

• Crossbow:- A mallard duck miraculously survived a horrifying attack after being shot with a crossbow bolt which had been left lodged in the bird's head. Telford, November 2022.
   

• Air gun:- 2 cats belonging to the same owner were both shot in the face within the space of 1 month. Faversham, Kent, November 2022.

Because air guns feature in so many reports of intentional harm against animals, the RSPCA has been campaigning to remove the loophole from firearm legislation which allows minors unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land, describing it as a:- 'recipe for disaster.' The UK Government agreed with this proposal and in July 2022 undertook to amend the Firearms Rules 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns by minors, but this has yet to occur 1 year on.

All wild birds, including swans, are protected under the:- 'Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981' and it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take them except under licence. The maximum penalty, if found guilty, is 6 months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to 5 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Brett added:- "Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is so prevalent in our society. Each year, reports of cruelty reach a terrible annual peak in the summer months; and we're braced for another summer of reports about innocent animals being targeted by air rifles, catapults and other deadly weapons. We need the help of our supporters so we can cancel out cruelty once and for all."

As the only charity in England and Wales investigating cruelty and rescuing animals, the RSPCA needs support to stay out on the frontline:-

£2 could help to provide a meal for a cat or dog in our care.
£6 could help pay to feed a dog for a day in our care.
£10 could help pay towards bandages for a cat or dog.
£15 could help pay for a cat or dog's clinical exam.
£20 could help pay towards a bird catching kit.
£30 could help pay for a life jacket for an inspector.
£100 could help pay towards water rescue equipment.
£500 could kit out a 4x4 inspector van.

The RSPCA's frontline teams are working hard to rescue animals in need this summer, but they say they:- "can't do it alone. We need your help to:- 'Cancel Out Cruelty.' To help support the RSPCA, visit:- RSPCA.Org.UK."