A national campaign to recruit more than 1,000 cycling instructors is being launched today by Olympic gold medallist, Denise Lewis - with the focus of the recruitment drive aimed at mums returning to work.
The mum of three is calling on fellow mums to train as Bikeability cycling instructors to help give the next generation of cyclists the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads and get the wheels of the economy turning.
To date, an impressive 150,000 children have benefitted from Bikeability - cycling proficiency for the 21st century - and the aim is for 500,000 children to be Bikeability trained by 2012. A groundswell of demand for Bikeability means that more instructors are being recruited to deliver the training.
As an added incentive to encourage people to join the ranks of the growing base of Bikeability instructors, training bursaries of £300 are available which effectively cut the cost of getting trained by half. The complete package makes it an ideal option for mums returning to work and comprises:
* Earning potential of up to £20,000 per year
* Flexible hours
* Variety of working in different locations with different people
* Opportunity to keep fit and active in the outdoors
* Being at the forefront of a nationwide drive to equip children with essential cycling skills
Supporting the campaign, Denise Lewis, said: "Cycling is a key life skill. As a mum, I think it’s so important that we give children the chance to learn how to cycle safely and independently.
"My kids love cycling outside in the fresh air, and I love seeing the sense of independence it gives them, but it’s really important to make sure they get the right training from day one.
"I’m right behind the bid to get more mums to consider becoming a Bikeability instructor - not only will it enable you to teach your own children road safety skills, but it will mean you give hundreds of other children the chance to learn a key life skill.
"This is about cycling skills for all children but, who knows, it might just help inspire Olympic cycling champions of the future too."
The recruitment campaign launches against a backdrop of widespread parental restrictions on when, where and how children cycle. Research from Cycling England has shown that over three quarters of parents (81%) ban their children from cycling independently, or limit their children’s cycling to such a degree that we are seeing an emerging breed of Cul-de-sac Kids, children restricted to cycling circuits of their immediate road or neighbourhood streets.
Whereas one in three parents (35%) were allowed to cycle to school, only one in five (18%) allow their children to ever do so today - and just 4% of children actually cycle to school regularly.
Paul Robison, Cycling England’s Bikeability Manager, said: "Instructors are at the frontline of our nationwide campaign to get 500,000 children Bikeability trained by 2012.
"Bikeability is quite unlike the old cycling proficiency scheme and instead offers real on the road training. That’s why we want parents not only to welcome Bikeability training for their own children but to actively become part of its delivery.
"I’m delighted that the impetus we’ve created behind Bikeability has opened up such a fantastic job opportunity for would-be instructors."
While Bikeability sessions happen year round, the next major burst will take place early in 2010 making now the ideal time to explore instructor career options. There are a number of accredited Instructor Training Providers throughout the country and training can take as little as four days to complete. To find out more about being a cycling instructor, visit bikeability.org.uk/professionals
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