GO-RIDE ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 Developing the next generation of cyclists
2014/15 Annual report
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Foreword
John Mills Coaching, education and development director
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eporting our annual Go-Ride delivery figures, it’s fantastic to share that young peoples’ participation is still increasing at such an encouraging rate. We set out to inspire young people to begin their own pathway in cycling; building a network that promotes continued participation and development from the playground to elite competition. And looking back at the last 12 months, the progress of the Go-Ride programme is clear. It seems that anything in the media about participation in cycling is always accompanied by a mention of the cycling ‘boom’ that was strengthened by the London 2012 Olympics. But through the continued success of British riders on the world stage at events such as the Tour de France, UCI Track Cycling World Cup and UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, this wave of support and subsequent participation is still carrying considerable energy. In the summer of 2014, we saw this first hand as Go-Ride Clubs across the country mobilised to deliver the Go-Ride Tour as a way of celebrating the arrival of the Tour de France Grand Depart to our shores. Here, 9,000 young
people were inspired to get involved, with an incredible 3,800 of these participants taking part in cycle sport for the first time. While it was easy to be swept up in the festival atmosphere that engulfed the country, this was a hugely positive outcome for the Go-Ride programme and we are proud of our clubs and volunteers for their dedicated efforts. The Go-Ride Tour is effectively a reflection of the really encouraging work that has taken place throughout the year and in collecting the results together, we can see the huge variety of opportunities created for young people across the country. Our network of clubs continues to grow and this means we can interact with even more developing athletes along the rider journey, providing them with an opportunity to access the Performance Pathway. As you explore the report, I would just ask you to consider that each and every figure reported relates to an element of the Go-Ride programme; be it a young rider, club, coach or volunteer. Going back to basics, these four elements are the foundations from which we build and ultimately what Go-Ride is all about.
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2014/15 Annual report
What is Go-Ride?
In 2014/15, the Go-Ride programme delivered:
515,000 opportunities for young people to get involved with cycle sport through the Go-Ride programme
There are over
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Go-Ride Objectives
s British Cycling’s national development programme for young people and clubs, Go-Ride aims to make the activity of cycling accessible to young people of all ages and abilities by providing a clear pathway from the playground to elite competition. With over 60% of the current Great Britain Cycling Team developing from Go-Ride Clubs, we know that this programme nurtures great talent and has the potential to reach even more young people across the country. Through the support of our Go-Ride Volunteers we have delivered 515,000 opportunities for young people to participate in the programme in the last year, contributing to British Cycling’s aim of inspiring the next generation of riders.
Deliver high quality coaching in school and community settings Develop an active network of Go-Ride Clubmark Clubs
Clockwise from top left: Young riders receiving coaching, Go-Ride graduate, Laura Trott, and a group of Go-Ride members
Create a competition pathway from school, to community, to elite Develop the next generation of volunteers
300 Go-Ride Clubs
105,000 opportunities delivered by British Cycling
Volunteers
opportunities delivered by
Volunteer Coaches
Go-Ride Coaches
Over
60%
Supported by more than
6,000
410,000
delegates
young people
of riders on the Great Britain Cycling Team started out in Go-Ride Clubs
attended the 2015 Go-Ride Conferences were inspired to get involved with cycling through the Go-Ride Tour
600 16,000 Go-Ride Racing events
Opportunities for young riders to don their first racing bibs
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How does Go-Ride work?
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Reaching out to schools across the country, we work with support staff to introduce cycling as an engaging and rewarding
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What makes it possible? We work with some fantastic commercial partners who have been instrumental in helping to deliver the Go-Ride programme, nationwide. Without their assistance we would not have been able to experience anything approaching the level of growth and success achieved during 2014/15.
Left to right: Getting ready for a Go-Ride Race, BMX coaching from a Young Volunteer and a young rider practising bike handling
hrough a team of development staff and regional Go-Ride Coaches, we work with volunteers to improve standards of coaching and compliance to ensure that Go-Ride Clubs are able to attract new riders and work effectively with them for the good of the club and the sport as a whole. We also actively support the creation of new clubs in the community, with particular focus on areas with a lower representation.
2014/15 Annual report
Our current partners are shown here - and we look forward to continuing our work with them to provide even more opportunities for young people to get involved in cycling through Go-Ride.
sport while supporting them to strengthen links with local clubs. This approach helps to establish cycling as a sustainable network in the community and build on local foundations to safeguard the future of the sport. And while the Go-Ride programme predominantly focuses on providing opportunities for young people, our work also extends to enabling groups to participate who have traditionally been under-represented. As such, we are actively improving the infrastructure in place for women and girls to take up the sport and promoting access so that riders with disabilities can engage with structured coaching sessions.
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The Go-Ride Team
Go-Ride Volunteers
Clockwise from top left: Riders receiving coaching tips, a volunteer marshall helping out and event officials attending a briefing
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ith a national network of over 300 clubs, the Go-Ride programme would simply not be sustainable without the dedication and enthusiasm of our Go-Ride Coaches, development staff and volunteers. The national team of British Cycling Go-Ride Coaches, supported by Regional Development Managers, are responsible for providing opportunities for young people in school and community settings. In addition to planning and delivering a huge variety of structured coaching sessions, these regional teams continually work to develop the local network of services and expand upon the Go-Ride programme. Go-Ride Coaches are trained to a high standard with British Cycling coaching qualifications and hold the necessary safeguarding and first aid certificates. Their role forms the first step on the wider performance pathway and they are therefore perfectly placed to identify and inspire the next generation of riders.
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ritish Cycling has always relied on volunteers, but there is an even greater need for people to get involved now as continued elite success leads to a greater demand at grassroots level.
105,000 opportunities delivered by Go-Ride Coaches last year
Totalling a workforce of over 6,000, our volunteers – supported by regional British Cycling staff – deliver sessions across the six disciplines of cycle sport and ensure that clubs can keep providing opportunities for young people, week after week. The three main areas of volunteering within Go-Ride Clubs are coaching, welfare and club management. We actively support the efforts of our volunteers through initiatives to help make their important work as easy as possible, ensuring that volunteers of the future are as equipped as they can possibly be.
We are supported by over 6,000 volunteers, with 410,000 opportunities for young people delivered by volunteer coaches last year
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The role of a Go-Ride Coach
Go-Ride Clubs
Left to right: A Go-Ride Coach at a Rider Development Session and Newport CC at a Go-Ride Racing event
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elivering the Go-Ride programme to young people in schools, the wider community and directly to the public through promotional events, British Cycling Go-Ride Coaches have a wide variety of experience within both coaching and cycle sport. All share one passion however - and that’s for developing the next generation of cyclists. See the following descriptions for a breakdown of the three environments within which a Go-Ride Coach delivers activities:
Schools Each school signed up to the Go-Ride programme will typically receive six sessions delivered by the Go-Ride Coach. These consist of five progressively coached sessions leading to a Go-Ride Racing event; a fundamental part of British Cycling’s entry level racing programme for young people. Our Go-Ride Coaches also support the School Games initiative, which includes intra- and inter-school delivery, regional festivals and national school competition. A key element of the activity is to promote local community cycling clubs, developing a school to club link that enables young people to enjoy the sport on their own rider journey. Community Go-Ride Coaches support the delivery of volunteer coaches within community clubs by helping to promote local club activity and advising club volunteers and riders alike on aspects of the Performance Pathway. Here, clubs can take advantage of coach expertise through dedicated Club Support Sessions that are built into the programme.
Holiday activity is also a focus area for the Go-Ride Coach, with coaching and Go-Ride Racing delivered during school and college holiday periods at local venues. Whether held in recreational areas, local parks or at dedicated cycling facilities, the sessions provided are inclusive and offer para-cycling activities and events specifically for women and girls. Promotional Events Promotional or demo events range from local country fairs through to major national and international cycle sport events. At such locations, our Go-Ride Coaches build a cross section of courses to provide a taster of different cycling disciplines with all necessary equipment for young people to experience riding and racing. We use these events to promote further aspects of the programme and encourage young people to contact their local community based cycling club. In 2014, young people had the opportunity to experience competition at the stage finishes of the Tour of Britain, the Grand Depart stages of the Tour de France and at each of the mass participation Sky Ride events.
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ur network of over 300 Go-Ride Clubs vary in size, structure and the cycling disciplines offered, but will all have signed up to the Go-Ride principles integrating club development and structured coaching activities for young people into a single, recognisable programme.
What does a club look like? In order to become Go-Ride registered, clubs will be British Cycling affiliated and have a focus on providing opportunities for young people through the delivery of regular coaching activities. GoRide Clubs can either be part of an existing British Cycling affiliated club or started independently.
Put simply, Go-Ride Clubs have something to offer everyone. Regardless of age and ability, there are opportunities to ride across the six disciplines of cycle sport, volunteer within all areas of club management and competition, and ultimately progress individually while contributing to the wider development of the sport.
Sessions are held in traffic free environments, with equipment to create fun and challenging activities while building riders’ skills. A club will have its own coach who will develop a programme of activities to support the needs of its rider membership and ensure that participants build essential bike handling skills.
As well as delivering practical coaching support, race resources and governance advice, we actively assist clubs in registering to join the Go-Ride programme and work towards the Clubmark standard, providing a template of best practice for clubs in all areas of regular activity. In return, clubs who join are expected to spread the positive values of cycling to young people and provide a supportive environment to increase both membership and participation.
Clubs require a central team of volunteers, with the following roles covered:
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Club Contact Club Coach(es) Club Welfare Officer
All activity is covered by public liability insurance from the British Cycling affiliation and adheres to British Cycling’s procedures for the protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Equality policies.
Clubmark Clubmark is Sport England’s cross-sport quality award for clubs. For parents and young cyclists, it provides confidence knowing that their local Go-Ride Club is safe, well managed and an exciting place to be. Once Go-Ride registration is complete, a club can work towards achieving Clubmark status to showcase their competence in observing best practice in child protection, coaching and competition, equity and club management. All of our Go-Ride Clubs either hold the Clubmark award or are currently working towards it.
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Go-Ride for schools
Go-Ride at major events
Les Cadets Juniors and Go-Ride Racing at a stage of the Tour of Britain
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he first experience of cycling as a sport for many young people will come through their school via the delivery of sessions by Go-Ride Coaches, where last year we delivered 45,000 opportunities. Our coaches provide high quality bikes and equipment so that anyone can take part, passing on knowledge and enthusiasm through engaging and interactive sessions with the aim of developing basic riding skills. Following this experience, some schools join the Go-Ride programme and become Go-Ride
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School Clubs. To do this they must have either a British Cycling qualified coach or ‘Cycling for Schools’ qualified staff member to run the coaching sessions. The sessions are run either as an after-school club or during curriculum PE, and qualified staff continue to deliver regular coaching and competition activities for young people within the school. School staff are also encouraged to work closely with their local Go-Ride Community Clubs to develop the local infrastructure and provide a clear pathway for students wanting to take their riding to the next level.
Top to bottom: Improving bike handling on a school playing field and spectators waiting for their turn
igh profile cycling events carry a huge amount of excitement and capture the imagination of the public, with star attractions such as the Aviva Tour of Britain providing ideal opportunities to promote the sport. Delivering Go-Ride sessions at major competitions and mass participation rides showcases the programme to entirely new audiences and generates more opportunities for young people to get involved. Easily the most significant cycling event to take place in the UK in 2014 was the Grand Depart of the Tour de France, giving
the sport a huge boost through incredible coverage and unmatched community spirit. With so much interest across the country, the three stages provided a fantastic opportunity to put Go-Ride on the map and cement a lasting legacy. In the months leading up to July 5, the Go-Ride Tour was created. Almost half of all Go-Ride Clubs across the country signed up to the Go-Ride Tour, holding over 240 entry-level events throughout the month of July with more than 9,000 young people taking part. The sessions gave riders a chance to emulate their cycling heroes - and for 3,800 participants, the
experience marked their very first involvement in cycle sport! In addition to Go-Ride Tour events hosted by clubs, our team of GoRide Coaches held come-and-try-it events at festivals around the stages of the Grand Depart. Taking part, young riders could win medals and T-shirts in the colours of the Tour de France jerseys – white, green, yellow and polka dot. Out on the road, 12 young people from the Go-Ride programme had the ride of a lifetime when they completed the first three stages of the Grand Tour ahead of the main peloton as Les Cadets Juniors.
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Go-Ride Racing
Our focus for 2015
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ritish Cycling’s Go-Ride Racing programme provides events specifically designed for riders under the age of 16 who have little or no racing experience. Through these entry-level races across all six disciplines, young people are given a gradual introduction to the competition pathway in order to bridge the gap between school or club coaching and open racing.
his year, the Go-Ride team has focused on encouraging clubs to hold girls-only races as part of their series. There has never been a better time for women’s cycling, with major international events inspiring women and girls to get on their bikes. Go-Ride Racing events hosted by clubs provide young girls with the perfect environment to don their first race bib, have fun and test their race skills.
Go-Ride Racing events are organised by volunteers in Go-Ride Clubs and by British Cycling GoRide Coaches. Last year, 16,000 young people were provided with the chance to race their friends and classmates in over 600 Go-Ride Racing events around the country. To help inspire the next generation of riders and make each young person’s first racing experience as memorable as possible the GoRide programme provides some crucial event resources and prizes for young people such as wrist bands, certificates and medals.
Clockwise from top left: Taking a corner at a Go-Ride Race, crossing the line with a medal, racing mountain bikes in the rain and at right, world and Olympic champion, Laura Trott
“Without support from the volunteers at my Go-Ride Club, it’s possible I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Laura Trott World and Olympic Champion
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THE RIDER JOURNEY:
BRITISH CYCLING MEMBERSHIP
A first step on the Performance Pathway
All Go-Ride Club members are offered free British Cycling membership in their first year, providing peace of mind protection through insurance whenever they are out on their bike. It also helps riders to get kitted out with all of the equipment and clothing they need through discounts at major retailers.
The Rider Journey maps out the levels of support and resources available for riders at different stages of their development, highlighting how the Go-Ride programme can help equip young people with the skills they may need to enjoy a lifelong passion for cycling – and possibly even win medals at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.
START
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BEGINNERS/ NEW CYCLISTS
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At this stage, the emphasis is on enjoying the thrill of riding a bike either in a Go-Ride Club or with family and friends.
DEVELOPING CYCLISTS
Young riders may begin to compete through Go-Ride Racing, which is a great place to start for aspiring racers. With Go-Ride Clubs developing their own entry level competitions, there are plenty of opportunities across the country to get involved.
PROGRESSING CYCLISTS
Club riders are making ongoing progress in their riding; experiencing improved performances, entering a greater variety of races and growing in confidence. This will be reflected in strong results in club, regional and national competition - usually accompanied with specialisation towards a particular discipline. For non-competitive riders, clubs are great places to enjoy regular riding with like-minded people and there are numerous volunteering opportunities as part of the Cycling Award for Young Volunteers.
British Cycling members also have the opportunity to gain experience through the Cycling Award for Young Volunteers programme, developing their leadership skills and achieving awards for the number of volunteering hours undertaken.
Riders in this phase explore the range of opportunities available, though will likely start to favour a particular discipline while further developing their skills and building confidence on the bike.
The Go-Ride programme helps beginners to develop foundation techniques through fun activities and games across the six cycling disciplines, while being supported to continue along the rider journey by a network of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers.
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As riders progress along their individual journeys and start to compete in regional races, British Cycling membership is essential as it provides young people with a Race Licence. A licence is required to enter regional events and the rider can begin to pick up ranking points within their category.
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JUNIOR & ADULT CYCLISTS
Junior cyclists will be riding regularly as part of a club or team, but there is still much to learn. Rider Development Sessions delivered by a Go-Ride Coach can help in developing their skills and bridge the gap between youth and adult racing. Competitive riders may move into trade teams and continue to compete at regional and national level, but will still be heavily involved in clubs. Juniors and adults can also take on responsibility in the organisation and management of club affairs, including promoting races. Roles include coaching, marshalling, welfare and commissaire; with each role vital to club development and the growth of cycling in the UK.
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Volunteers
From far left: Yvonne Mills, John Wych, Liz Walton, Molly Pattinson
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n the last year, 410,000 opportunities for young people were delivered by club volunteers and there is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes by the 6,000 volunteers supporting the GoRide programme. We have trained 1,000 volunteers in the last year alone and know that there is an incredible appetite to continue to grow this workforce as the programme evolves. From the Club Contact to a parent helping out on a Saturday morning; there are many different volunteering roles available within Go-Ride Clubs. Below are profiles of the three central posts, followed by the increasingly popular position of Young Volunteer.
Club Contact Based at Roch Valley Raiders Go-Ride Club (having established the club in 2009), Yvonne Mills volunteers as the Club Contact and is therefore responsible for everything from handling the administration through to producing promotional material and fund raising. Yvonne also coordinates the recruitment and training of volunteers and provides support to the members at every level, reflecting her organisation and dedication as well as her friendly, can-do approach that enables the club to function effectively. Yvonne was named as the BBC North West Unsung Hero for 2014, in recognition of the difference she has made to cycling in her local community. “Volunteering has given me so much more confidence and self-belief, and seeing the smiles of riders at race meetings or coaching is enough reward to know that my time and efforts are appreciated.”
Club Coach In order to register with the Go-Ride programme, clubs must have at least one qualified British Cycling coach to deliver regular sessions that are varied, enjoyable and engaging for young riders. Volunteering at Mossley CRT in Manchester, John Wych is a Go-Ride Club Coach and generally helps out at the club at least once a week. John came to coaching with a strong background in cycling, having raced a range of disciplines. He now shares this experience with the next generation of cyclists as a British Cycling Level 2 Coach, after completing the training alongside his full time employment. John also received a coaching bursary to help towards the costs of the qualification and continues to develop his coaching through working with other coaches and accessing reference material. “I’d encourage anyone with a genuine interest in cycling to get involved in coaching. At this grass roots level, you’re not only coaching cycling skills but also setting beginners along a path that teaches them about being fit and healthy, working as a team, setting objectives and putting in the work to achieve those goals.”
Club Welfare Officer The main purpose of a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is to promote the safeguarding and protection of young people within a club, upholding the relevant policies and procedures in this area. Liz Walton volunteers at Newcastle Phoenix as a CWO - and has held this role in several clubs for almost 10 years. Attending the weekly sessions, she ensures that all riders have the right clothing and equipment for the weather and will check that they are drinking enough during long activities. As the CWO must be a separate role to that of Club Coach, Liz can provide independent feedback on delivery of the session. CWOs may also need to deal with sensitive and confidential matters, so will be good listeners and effective communicators. “I don’t think you should be afraid to help out in this way: welfare is a role that is really important in a children’s club but most of the time you aren’t needed – which means you’re doing a good job.”
Young Volunteer Molly Pattinson initially got involved with Tiverton BMX Go-Ride Club a couple of years ago and got stuck into racing, but fell ill at the beginning of 2013 and was no longer able to ride her bike. Instead, she took on the Cycling Award for Young Volunteers and helped out with all aspects of the club. Since then she has started her own BMX team, Revolution Racing, securing funds from sponsors, developing team kit and building an enthusiastic team of 20 riders. Molly is now a second year National Youth Forum Representative, communicating the views of her peers and fellow volunteers at the highest level. “I have completed the Platinum Cycling Award for Young Volunteers and was selected to represent British Cycling at the National Young Officials Academy in Loughborough in December 2013. “The most important thing for me is that it has helped to build my confidence. People take me seriously; I’m listened to, my voice is heard, and my suggestions are taken on board.”
Cycling Award for Young Volunteers The Cycling Award for Young Volunteers (CAYV) provides a fun and practical first step into volunteering, empowering young people to learn lifelong skills, try something new, develop self-confidence and make a difference by helping others. There are also plenty of additional opportunities where volunteers can further their experience through officiating, running a Go-Ride Club or coaching. National Youth Forum Established by British Cycling, the National Youth Forum gives young people the chance to turn ideas into opportunities and raise awareness of cycling in the community. The forum consists of 12 proactive young volunteers who represent young people across the sport and ensure their voices are heard.
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Go-Ride Conferences
“We really value this opportunity to thank our club volunteers for all their efforts and pass on important information and training to support their ongoing efforts at clubs across the country.” Stephanie Allmark, Development Manager for Clubs and Volunteers
Clockwise, left to right: A busy workshop and Coaching, Education and Development Director, John Mills, opening a conference and awarding Volunteer of the Year in the West Midlands
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he development team deliver a series of Go-Ride Conferences during the first few months of every year. These events are an opportunity for all Go-Ride Volunteers with British Cycling membership to come together in order to share best practice, learn about new initiatives, undertake volunteer training and discuss themes such as development, funding and membership.
The 2015 conferences were attended by almost 500 delegates, representing a wide range of Go-Ride Clubs from across the country. With a theme of getting back to basics, focus was upon
building club foundations in order to effectively deliver the Go-Ride programme while participant numbers continue to grow. In addition to providing training opportunities, the conferences bring clubs together in a dynamic environment to share best practice and develop regional links. In recent years the conferences have been expanded to incorporate activities for young volunteers to undertake CAYV and Racemaker workshops. Volunteers from our National Youth Forum have also been instrumental in conference delivery and we know that delegates have been really engaged with the group’s innovative approach.
YOUNG VOLUNTEERS DISCUSSED OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT
“A GREAT EVENT TO MEET OTHER VOLUNTEERS, LEARN FROM THEM AND TAKE AWAY LOTS OF IDEAS!”
“THE WORKSHOPS WERE GREAT, VERY INFORMATIVE AND ALLOWED US TO SHARE AND DISCUSS OUR OPINIONS ON VARIOUS COACHING IDEAS.”
“REALLY ENJOYABLE DAY! I LEARNT A LOT FROM THE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AND FEEL INSPIRED TO GO BACK AND PUT IT IN TO PRACTICE.”
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Partnerships
Partnership case study
Keith Chandler Cyclopark, Kent
From our partners Eastlands Trust, Manchester Manchester has benefitted from two Go-Ride Coaches since 2011 and in that time we have seen huge growth in the number of schools across the city that are engaged in cycling activity, both within their premises and on site at the National Cycling Centre and Platt Fields Park BMX Track.
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ritish Cycling’s Go-Ride programme works in partnership with a number of local authorities, cycling trusts and community based charities, where dedicated partnership coaches provide targeted opportunities for schools and communities within the area. These partnerships have resulted in significantly improved access to the sport for young people. Working in partnership has meant that coaches can really make the most of state of the art facilities and existing club links, further enriching local amenities. This promotes sustainability and local empowerment, helping to forge strong bonds within the community. The following profiles provide examples of what each of the Go-Ride Coaches deliver and the differences in the way each model functions, also offering insight into what the opportunity means to our partners.
Many of the pupils who first became engaged in the programme at primary school are now regular faces at our coached sessions and their passion and enthusiasm for the sport is a direct result of those initial Go-Ride coaching encounters. Whilst Manchester has some fantastic cycle sport facilities, without the Go-Ride programme many young people would not be accessing these amenities as it takes the human touch of talented coaches to inspire them to give the sport a go in the first place. Clare Goatman Head of Sport and Community Activity, Eastlands Trust Cycle Derby British Cycling and Cycle Derby Go-Ride Coaches have worked to get the community excited about the sport of cycling, providing accessible opportunities at some great facilities. Collaborating has meant that together we have been able to deliver a huge number of high quality sessions and develop the three Go-Ride Clubs currently registered in the city. Being able to make use of Derby Arena since its opening in March has really helped the Go-Ride
programme to flourish; British Cycling with Derby City Council are delighted to now offer a multitude of track sessions. One of the success stories here is the series of Rider Development Sessions which were established by British Cycling’s regional development team and supported by Cycle Derby. Run specifically for women and girls, these have been really popular in providing accessible opportunities for female cyclists looking to ride the boards. Owen Swift Derby City Council and Mark Smith, Cycle Derby Active Tameside The partnership has provided opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in regular cycling activity, both at the Tameside Cycle Circuit and across a variety of community settings. Highlights of this year’s partnership include; introducing a new race league for women and girls, developing the cycle track as a Disability Cycling Hub in the North West, delivering regular chain gang structured coaching sessions, cycle coaching in over 20 primary schools and three secondary schools and introducing new members to Mossley CRT. We look forward to working with British Cycling and Tameside Cycling Development group to continue to grow participation in 2015/16. Andrew Dwyer Sports Development Manager, Active Tameside
Cyclopark is a registered charity that operates the purpose-built facility on behalf of Kent County Council and its partners. The site is a multi-discipline cycling venue providing a regional level BMX track, adaptable multi-length closed road circuit and mountain bike trails, with classroom facilities, a children’s play area and skate park. The partnership between Cyclopark and British Cycling’s Go-Ride programme aims to establish the facility as a leading cycle sport venue in the area, promoting high quality coaching and racing opportunities. This particular model suits a partner funded facility where a dedicated Go-Ride Coach can support and develop activities that will increase its usage. The matched partnership here sees Keith, the British Cycling funded coach, working closely with a second coach funded by Cyclopark to deliver a cross section
of progressive coaching activity. Although employed by two separate organisations, both coaches wear British Cycling kit, are fully trained in the Go-Ride programme and are supported by British Cycling’s headquarters and South East regional teams. There is a fleet of bikes stored at the venue, of which a number are funded and supplied by British Cycling.
“I know Cyclopark really well as I volunteered here for a couple of years before being appointed as a Partnership Coach, so have been able to witness some big changes in the number of people getting into cycling and looking for a safe and accessible local site. There is also a thriving club based here called Club Cyclopark and I’m heavily involved in its running and development.
The coaches are each employed for the equivalent of three days per week, with their varied roles ensuring that Cyclopark offers a wide range of activities for young riders of all ages and abilities. And while they don’t currently actively deliver sessions within schools, their responsibilities include outreach work to educate staff and students about the Go-Ride programme and encourage use of the venue.
“My working week is incredibly varied and pretty far from being your average nine to five. With so many cycling disciplines catered for on site, I can go from coaching primary school pupils on the trails in the morning, to running a Rider Development Session in the afternoon with teenagers practising their skills on the road circuit. On top of all this, we include Go-Ride Racing events throughout the year so that young people can put into practise the techniques they have picked up during coaching sessions.”
Keith tells us about his history with the facility and what a typical day can involve:
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Partnership case study
Partnership case study
Jack Humphreys Bolton
Phil Ball Knowsley
Our outreach Go-Ride Coaches travel within the boundaries of their partner organisation to deliver sessions, but are otherwise based at home. They are equipped with a British Cycling van and trailer to transport fleets of bikes and coaching equipment to a cross section of traffic free coaching environments, including school playing fields and dedicated cycling facilities. We also have outreach partnerships with the Eastlands Trust in Manchester and Cycle Derby, where each provides fantastic examples of community interaction. This community support model sees Jack, the Go-Ride Coach, deliver sessions to schools, community clubs and college and university students, along with activity at promotional events such as the School Games initiative and British Cycling’s Sky Ride programme. Being mobile means that there is great flexibility in the services provided as Jack can simply turn up
and run a session without the host needing to provide any additional equipment. Jack has been involved in a huge variety of sessions across Bolton over the past year; working in schools, initiating after school clubs and running Club Support and Rider Development Sessions for the over 16s. The Go-Ride programme has a strong focus on accessibility where riders of any age and ability can take part, and there have been dedicated women and girls sessions to encourage participation. Having been involved with the Go-Ride programme for years as a volunteer and now a member of staff, Jack tells us about his responsibilities: “I still ride and race regularly, but initially came through the Go-Ride programme myself. As a youth I got involved with the Cycling Award for Young Volunteers and decided to focus on coaching, working my
way through the British Cycling UKCC qualifications. I’m still actively studying so helping to develop the sport within the borough has been an invaluable experience. “Bolton has a diverse population and it has been fantastic to be able to coach in so many different environments while supporting local council initiatives. Together with the British Cycling Regional Development Manager, I think we’ve established a really vibrant participation programme – and this is expanding currently with new projects and requests coming in all the time.” We are increasingly working with partners to develop dedicated cycling facilities, so club development becomes an essential part of the Go-Ride Coach’s duties. As a direct result of Jack’s work in Bolton, there are now plans in place to develop a new cycling facility in the area and this will only encourage further activity and opportunities.
This partnership utilises a purpose built outdoor velodrome and BMX racing track at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park to promote cycle sport within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. We also run a facility and outreach programme from the Tameside Cycle Circuit in Ashton-underLyne, Greater Manchester. Phil Ball is the Go-Ride Partnership Coach for Knowsley and brings with him a wealth of experience from time spent working within British Cycling’s Coach Education department. In addition to being well versed in the technical aspects of coaching, Phil has a background in sports development and has therefore had enormous influence in helping the facility to grow. As part of his outreach work, Phil regularly delivers presentations within school assemblies to outline the Go-Ride programme and the cycling opportunities available at Knowsley Leisure and Culture
Park. Schools can then sign up to take part in progressive coaching sessions, with the potential to move into discipline specific activity with the support of the venue. Phil is equipped with a vehicle, trailer, coaching equipment and fleet of bikes, meaning that he can also offer sessions to local schools. This type of partnership requires a dual approach, whereby Phil delivers a standard set of progressive coaching sessions within schools and hosts events at the facility. When engaging with a new group he can split the six sessions between the school and the venue, providing an opportunity to prepare pupils for the step up into a discipline specific environment. There are currently strong links with 16 schools who all take advantage of the park.
Speaking of his role and its key placement in the local community, Phil said: “It’s a great environment to work in and being able to support schools from their own premises as well as coach riders from the Leisure and Culture Park means I can deliver some really exciting programmes. We’ve also had lots of riders make the transition from school sessions to resident clubs such as Knowsley BMX Club, meaning that membership has increased significantly and facility use is even greater. “The relationship works both ways too, as I have been supporting Knowsley BMX Club to run Go-Ride Races on the dedicated circuit – and we’re seeing some really strong fields. With holiday coaching programmes in the calendar for when the schools are off, we can provide opportunities for young people year-round.”
2014/15 Annual report 27
26 Go-Ride - developing the next generation of cyclists
Partnership case study
“Go-Ride Clubs offer every young person the best route into cycling and are the best way of getting riding experience throughout the country.” Shanaze Reade Former world champion
Nathaniel Martin working with Access Sport in London Access Sport is a registered charity whose mission is to give more children contact with quality sport opportunities in an effort to tackle social exclusion, obesity and inactivity - with a particular focus on those in disadvantaged areas. To support this, the Go-Ride programme has partnered with Access Sport to offer coaching to young people with the appointment of Go-Ride Coach, Nathaniel. From initial school sessions through to coaching at the Lee Valley Velopark, Nathaniel has been involved in developing a huge array of sessions across the capital. Tailored for beginners and expert riders alike, coaching is on offer throughout the week in a wide variety of settings. This unique model for community club development draws on the many benefits of sport to unite communities and improve health. The partnership has so far engaged over 5,000 young people in London with the sport of BMX and encouraged them to become
members of their local clubs. Nathaniel predicts a positive future for BMX in London, with continuous growth due to the unique appeal of the sport to younger and more diverse communities: “BMX is a fantastic sport and a great activity to pick up in London where the space or terrain for other cycling disciplines such as mountain biking is obviously limited. I grew up here in the city and it’s just crazy how popular BMX has become! More and more people are coming to our Go-Ride Clubs in schools and communities, and we are constantly recruiting and training more volunteers to keep up with the demand. “As a result of this partnership with the Go-Ride programme, Access Sport has pledged to have BMX represented across 15 London boroughs by 2016, delivering a total of 16,000 opportunities. “This is a big target to hit, but with the energy and enthusiasm I’ve seen in the community, I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
Right: Riders at a BMX Go-Ride Club line up for their turn, with Go-Ride Coach in London Nathaniel Martin and former world champion, Shanaze Reade, inset
28 Go-Ride - developing the next generation of cyclists
2014/15 Annual report 29
Looking to the future
John Mills Coaching, education and development director
P
roviding well over half a million opportunities for young riders within one year is an achievement we are incredibly proud of, though it does mean that we are setting ourselves an ambitious target for the year ahead as we look to grow even further. As you will be aware from this report however, we have an incredible team and an everevolving Go-Ride network which I’m sure will rise to the challenge. One of the biggest changes for the year ahead is a new partnership with Evans Cycles, who are supplying 1,500 HOY bikes to the Go-Ride programme which will be used across the country by our team of Go-Ride Coaches to deliver sessions. The fact that the bikes bear the name of one of the most phenomenal athletes Britain has ever seen is sure to inspire thousands of young people to get into the sport, helping us to uncover the next generation of talent. Together with Evans Cycles and the Bicycle Association, we are working to deliver over two million opportunities for young people to get into cycling by 2020.
This year also sees an update of British Cycling’s #WeRide strategy to get one million more women and girls on bikes by 2020. Supporting this wider aim, we are encouraging
Go-Ride Clubs to hold female-only events and offer Go-Ride Racing for girls across all seasons. For women wanting to improve their riding skills and get into racing, our Go-Ride Coaches also offer Rider Development Sessions where attendance has shown that there is huge interest at this level across the country. With five Disability Cycling Hubs in place, we are now able to offer more para-cycling sessions which offer high quality coaching and specialist equipment to riders with disabilities. These activities form the first step on the Great Britain Para-Cycling Team Performance Pathway and take place in traffic free environments at dedicated facilities. This has been a year of strengthening the existing Go-Ride infrastructure and supporting our fantastic team of volunteers with all of the resources they need to facilitate club development. While participation has increased as a result, we’re looking forward to seeing what the 12 months ahead will hold. We know that we have a great programme to offer to those new to cycling – as well as riders who have already begun their journeys and are exploring all of the opportunities available to them.
“British Cycling’s Go-Ride programme is a fantastic initiative that will introduce many thousands of youngsters to the six disciplines. “It provides the crucial stepping stone from school sport to community sport ensuring more young people continue to participate in sport from an early age right through to adult life.” Mike Diaper Executive Director, Community Sport Sport England
30 Go-Ride - developing the next generation of cyclists
Next steps
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f you would like more information on anything featured in this booklet; whether you are interested in the benefits of joining the Go-Ride programme, taking your first steps into volunteering or becoming a partner, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the details opposite.
Visit: britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride Email: go-ride@britishcycling.org.uk
John Mills Coaching, Education and Development Director Melanie Knowles PA to Coaching, Education and Development Director melanieknowles@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2072 Colin Humphreys National Development Manager colinhumphreys@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2077 Rob Mace Development Manager: Coaching and Competition robmace@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2078 Stephanie Allmark Development Manager: Clubs and Volunteers stephanieallmark@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2069 Julia Klinger-Moore Senior Development Administrator juliaklinger-moore@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2070 Sarah Lewis Senior Marketing and Communications Officer sarahlewis@britishcycling.org.uk 0161 274 2013
British Cycling Stuart Street Manchester M11 4DQ T: 0161 274 2000 E: go-ride@britishcycling.org.uk britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride