We are making 2021 the Year of the Volunteer and shining a light on the brilliant work volunteers do for all forms of cycling across the home nations. We want to acknowledge the huge contribution volunteers make to cycling and recognise the wide variety of roles undertaken to activate, support, lead, and deliver at all levels.
Each month, we are taking nominations from across the regions and home nations. If you think someone deserves a mention, get in touch on social media with your respective regional or national teams or via @BCCoaches on Twitter.
The first Summer of Cycling took place throughout July and August with volunteers activating spaces in their local communities, leading rides, and helping to inspire cyclists of all ages.
A huge thank you and well done to all that have been nominated in August 2021 for their ongoing commitment to our sport and to those who may have volunteered for the first time during the Summer of Cycling or have engaged new riders in their clubs or groups. Thank you from everyone at British Cycling, and from our community.
Name: Michael Jaye
Region: West Midlands
Role and/or Qualifications: Club Welfare Office and Club/Site Support - Stratford Cycling Club
Michael carries out a variety of roles behind the scenes at Stratford Cycling Club. Micheal's dedicaiton allows members of the club to participate in a safe and welcoming environment. He is the club welfare officer but he also takes on lots of other valuable roles behind the scenes, including keeping the circuit in good condition by strimming it back at the end of summer, providing first aid cover at events, and encouraging children to ride their bikes.
British Cycling Values: Passion, Integrity, Unity
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Name: Ros Spencer
Region: South
Role and/or Qualifications: Time Keeper, Chairwoman, Treasurer
Poole Wheelers Cycling Club, South Region. Ros's involvement with the club started in 1965, joining as a member. Then in 1968 becoming an official timekeeper. Within this time Ros has held nearly every role possible from Chairwoman to her current role as treasurer.
Ros has been a part of Poole Wheelers Cycling Club for over 55 years in many different roles. She has been an ever-present timekeeper in the weekly TT's and helped support countless riders over the years. In this time, Ros has helped organise successful national events held by the club and supported countless other cycling clubs in the region, being a timekeeper for their open events too. If you've competed in an open TT in South Dorset, you can bet that Ros would have been the timekeeper. In 2021 she set off and time kept for the local 50 mile open TT, as well as being the timekeeper for the local 10 and 25 mile time trials. When the Time trial season ends, her support continues throughout winter, supporting the club’s Wednesday evening rides and making sure the club continues to operate smoothly.
'“She is the backbone of our club, without her help the club would not have achieved the success it has to date.” (Poole Wheelers current member) “Ros is a truly amazing lady… I have not been a member since the late 80s /early 90s but not at all surprised to see the heart of the club is still Ros”. (Poole Wheelers past member) “A friendly face in the club she has helped encourage countless riders through the year into racing and cycling. Without Ros, Poole Wheelers would not be the successful well-known club it is today." (Poole Wheelers current volunteer & member)
Ros's commitment to local cycling is incredible and no doubt everyone who she has come across will join us to say a HUGE thank you!
British Cycling Values: Unity, Passion, Integrity, Innovation
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Name: George Corey
Region: South East
Role and/or Qualifications: AMS Marshal & Trainee Road Commissaire
George is one of the good Samaritans of our region and for our sport. George is a hugely dedicated member of the AMS (accredited marshal scheme) community, regularly going over and beyond the call of duty. As well as marshalling at many of our road events, he often transports, stores, collects and delivers race kit both to and from our regional lockup. Over recent years George has regularly taken on the role of lead AMS marshal at events and preforms this role to a very high level. Georges' inquisitive nature always leads to him striving to do the role to the very best of his abilities and not simply making do. George regularly provides feedback to the regional staff team on traffic management plans and areas for improvement and does so in a helpful and constructive manner. George is well liked and well respected within the wider road race community and we're delighted to see him train to be a regional road commissaire, yet another string to his bow!
"I love working with George as it's guaranteed things will be done to the letter"
"George is always very thorough and clear within his capacity as a lead AMS"
Phil Webber, South East Regional Events Officer says: "George is a much loved member of the region and his dedication towards his volunteering is exemplary. The respect he commands among his peers is testament to his character and he is a real asset to the region and it's a pleasure to work alongside him. I believe he has the makings of a great commissaire and wish him the best of luck with the final phases of his training! Thanks for all you help George"
British Cycling Values: Passion, Integrity
Name: Officials and Volunteers of Notts and Derby League Cyclo-Cross League
Region: East Midlands
Role and/or Qualifications: Committee members and league volunteers
The League is celebrating its 40th year of co-ordinating Cyclo-Cross events run by clubs in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Strictly speaking the 40th anniversary was in 2020 but for obvious reasons the celebrations have been held over until this year. The first meeting of interested clubs was held on 13th August 1980 and 12 clubs signed up that year to be involved, several of those clubs are still involved today. In its first year the biggest event had 32 riders in more recent years events had increased to over 450 riders on a regular basis. The league was the first to separate the womens starts from the other categories in 2012 and with regularly increasing numbers this paved the way to standalone womens races in 2019.
Tony Lynch who instigated the initial meeting was involved for many years and Harry Gould the original Treasurer, later became chairman of the League, was a regular commissaire and is still involved with his club, the Matlock CCs' round as well as supporting his children and grandchildren who still race. The leagues first female chair, Emma Payne, came into post in May 2019 and it is thanks to her and the rest of the current Committee that the league has reached its 40th anniversary and survived the Covid Pandemic in a healthy state with a calendar of events for 2021/22 season and a long term sponsor. The league has been the starting point for many riders, organisers and commissaires who have played a huge part in the development of the discipline at all levels from local activity right through to the UCI and Olympic levels and welcomes new volunteers to get involved behind the scenes to continue its great work for another 40 years.
Should you wish to find out more about the Notts and Derby Cyclo-Cross League or express interest in volunteering with NDCXL visit https://www.ndcxl.org.uk/history-of-ndcxl/ you can also follow NDCXL on twitter @NDCXL
British Cycling Values: Passion
Name: Beverly Graham and Tina Walker
Region: Eastern - Hertfordshire - Stevenage Cycle Hub
Role and/or Qualifications: Breeze Champions and Cycle Instructors on the Stevenage 'Sofa to Saddle' Course
Beverly and Tina who are Breeze Champions in Stevenage, worked together to organise and instruct a 6-week Sofa to Saddle course at the Stevenage Cycling Hub. They ran two courses, a male and female only course. The Sofa to Saddle project was specifically aimed and providing those people from diverse ethnic backgrounds an opportunity to learn to ride. Funded by British Cycling and Hertfordshire County Council, the course provided Bike Hire to make the sessions more accessible and used Hertfordshire Sports Partnerships community networks to promote the sessions within ethnically diverse community groups. Tina and Beverly volunteered their time each Saturday to develop the skills and confidence of their participants. Their supportive coaching styles and welcoming demeaner encouraged the development of the participants, such that the women on the course are now confident enough to participate in their local HSBC UK Breeze Rides, also led by these two volunteers. One of their participants enjoyed the sessions so much, that she was willing to travel by bus for 1-hour in each direction to attend the training. Without Tina and Beverly's dedication to the programme, which allowed free cycle lessons, their participants would not have had the chance to learn to ride, and experience the joy of cycling.
Tina and Bev have shared their passion for cycling with so many beginner riders and empowered them to take on new challenges in cycling. They have worked closely with the Community Activator in Hertfordshire to innovate the Sofa to Saddle course, and their contributions will help to roll out the course in other areas.
Many congratulations to Bev, who has reached the milestone of leading her 500th Breeze Ride. Thank you for your commitment to helping more women ride bikes.
British Cycling Values: Passion
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More about Breeze and Guided Rides
Name: Dean McQue
Region: Yorkshire/ North East - Richmond (North Yorkshire) Cycling Club
Role and/or Qualifications: Club Secretary. Route Planner. Ride Leader
Dean is Secretary of Richmond Cycling Club and has been part of the committee who have instigated a change to club ride formats and widened the disciplines and types of rides on offer to club members and the wider community.
Dean gives his time to create a wide range of routes planning carefully to consider and ensure new club members are well informed of planned routes in advance, and included as well as challenged.There are, of course, very well researched cafe stops!
He as recently completed his Ride Leadership Levels 1 and 2, and despite being an experienced rider and Bikeability instructor he said the learnings will benefit his already brilliant group leading skills.
One of the new female club members said "I joined the club earlier this year and was a bit nervous as I was totally new to group riding. Dean led the group I joined and immediately made me feel at ease, ensuring no riders were left behind, everyone was comfortable and safe and also offered up tonnes of advice and tips which really helped me get to grips with it. I now ride in Dean's group every time I ride with the club - not only does he make you feel totally at ease but he’s also great company to ride with!"
Dean has recently completed an even longer than normal Lands End to John O'Groats riding 1000 miles over 9 days with 60000ft of clumbing! Chapeau Dean.
Thank you Dean, keep riding!
More about Breeze and Guided Ride
Volunteers: In Focus - January 2021
Volunteers: In Focus - February 2021
Volunteers: In Focus - March 2021
Volunteers: In Focus - April 2021
VolunteersInFocus_June2021
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