Exciting opportunity for cycle instructors in West Yorkshire
Cycle for Health is a first-of-its-kind referral programme, designed to improve health and wellbeing through cycling. The programme of training and led rides is funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme and delivered by Cycling UK, the UK’s cycling charity, which is looking for qualified instructors to help with its delivery.
Cycle for Health helps adults identified as having poor mental or physical health by offering a route into regular activity. It helps build fitness and self-esteem, developing skills and confidence to kick-start healthy habits that improve everyday quality of life.
After a break enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, Cycle for Health is now back, with 12-week courses consisting of weekly two-hour sessions running from this spring till the end of the year. The courses are run from hubs across West Yorkshire, with multiple courses at each venue and the hubs providing fleets of bikes and equipment.
Cycle for Health has helped more than 1,000 course participants during the previous four-year programme, making a significant positive impact on people’s lives through structured activity
Declan O'Regan, programme manager for Cycle for Health
Each course cohort consists of up to 12 participants. They will be adults referred from health organisations, including primary and secondary healthcare services (e.g. GPs, mental health support services, cardio rehabilitation) and exercise referral schemes. Participants are screened to ensure that cycling is a suitable and safe form of exercise for their individual needs, and that Cycle for Health is the right programme for them.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Cycling can have such a positive impact, both on our health and wellbeing, and the region we live in. I’m committed to making cycling a natural choice for short journeys, helping people stay connected, and access work and opportunities.
“If you’re an experienced cycle instructor, definitely consider working with Cycling UK on the Cycle for Health programme. You’ll get the satisfaction of working with people who can really benefit from your unique skills.”
Declan O’Regan, programme manager for Cycle for Health, comments:
“Anyone who loves cycling knows that it can do wonders for your mental and physical health, and the results we achieved in the past attest to this. Cycle for Health has helped more than 1,000 course participants during the previous four-year programme, making a significant positive impact on people’s lives through structured activity.
“It’s a great, rewarding way to give back to your community for anyone with the requisite skills. However, many of our previous instructors have been forced to change careers as they were unable to work through the lockdowns. That’s why we’re on the hunt for experienced cycling instructors once more, to help with this ground-breaking scheme.”
Instructor requirements
Cycling UK is looking for:
- Lead instructors – fully qualified instructors (NSI or 1st4Sport) with experience of working with adults.
- Co-instructors/Ride leaders who are NSIP or have a Ride Leader qualification
Cycling UK pays fully qualified lead instructors (NSIQ) £16/hour, and £14/hour for any other qualification, with travel expenses also paid for. Instructors must be able to attend at least six weeks of a 12-week course. Continuity of delivery is important to build good relationships with the participants, and between instructors, so that confidence and cohesion within the group grows. Having a DBS check, First Aid, or other relevant qualification (e.g. coaching) is useful but not essential.
If you’re interested in working on the Cycle for Health scheme, please contact Cycling UK on 01483 904562 or cycleforhealth@cyclinguk.org.
Notes to editors
Cycling UK
The UK’s cycling charity imagines a world where the streets are free of congestion and the air is clean to breathe, where parents encourage their children to cycle to school and everyone shares the exhilaration of being in the saddle. For more than 140 years, we’ve been making our streets safer, opening up new traffic free routes and inspiring more people to cycle more often. www.cyclinguk.org
For more info on the Cycle for Health programme, go to https://www.cyclinguk.org/community-outreach/health
CityConnect
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme works in partnership with a range of public, private and community organisations to encourage more people to cycle and walk short journeys.
The CityConnect programme has received funding through the Department for Transport-funded Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund as well as local match funding – a combined circa £73m package of works aimed at improving cycling infrastructure across West Yorkshire and York to make cycling and walking the natural choice for short journeys. The programme is delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the five West Yorkshire councils and City of York Council.
In partnership with Leeds City Council and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the team has completed work on the 23km Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, which connects two of Yorkshire’s major cities with a route segregated from traffic.
Communities across West Yorkshire and York are seeing the benefits of new, high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure, including Bradford’s Canal Road Cycleway, Leeds’s City Centre Cycle Superhighway, the Castleford Wakefield Greenway, a series of canal towpath upgrades in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, and Scarborough Bridge, York.
Through CityConnect, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority also delivers a series of awareness campaigns and engagement initiatives, including support for businesses, schools and grassroots initiatives to boost the number of people travelling by bike or on foot.
For more information visit www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire Combined Authority works in partnership with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in the region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network. By championing the region’s interests nationally and internationally, the Combined Authority secures the investment to deliver better transport and housing, help businesses to grow and create jobs.
For more information visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
Press contact information
For more information, please contact the national Cycling UK press office. Due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak, currently the main press office number (01483 238 315) is not being monitored. If you would like to speak to a member of the press office during working hours (0900 - 1700) please email publicity@cyclinguk.org or call 07786 320 713.
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