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National and regional press releases in reverse order with the most
recent first ..
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Skip
to the Instructor Training Press Release )
Check out these links ...... in the
Daily Mail
and click on the above link to go to the Bike Bamboo website!
Also the
Calfee Design
website.
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Scheme of the Month - Newquay Junior School
More people cycling, more safely, more often
 When the Bikeability pilot was launched in September 2006, Newquay Junior School asked cycle trainer Wendy Creed to work with Y3 teacher Viv Davy to deliver the programme. Viv organised a minimum of 2 groups for training each half term - Level 1 training for Years 3 and 4 and Level 2 on road training for Years 5 and 6. In the Spring Term 2008 the PTA offered to contribute a small amount per child who did their on road training. At the same time the application to Awards for All was submitted to enable children without their own bikes to participate.
In April 2008, Viv learned that the school had been successful in winning a grant of £9,000. That figure was to cover the cost of 10 bikes. Secure bike sheds are also currently being built using this funding. The remainder, along side a grant from the Youth Sports Trust went into training costs. Now both Y5 and Y6 could have free on road training at Level 2 and Y3 and Y4 can also have playground training to Level 1 standard; a total of 150 to 200 children per year.
Head teacher, Steve Bywaters, has supported the staff with the cost of training over and above the bursary and ensured that SATs tests timetabling has not disrupted the training. The school allows cycling during school hours and Viv hopes to train up as a National Standards Assistant Instructor when the course is ratified. Her enthusiasm has inspired three colleagues to train as National Standards Instructors.
Newquay Juniors has supported cycle training for almost 3 years, promoting it to parents as well as the children. Some parents have asked for training to take up cycling or regain their confidence.
Viv hopes to run a cycling club for the children and, during activity week in the summer term, off-roading using MTB instructors trained on CTC’s newly devised off road course.
Viv Davy is also our Personality of the Month
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm and is filed under Scheme of the month. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Personality of the Month - Viv Davy, Newquay Junior School
 What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
I am a Year 3 teacher at Newquay Junior School (part-time / job-share) and I run the Bikeability courses for all the year groups (Year 3 to Year 6).
How long have you done that?
I have been teaching for 15 years, 10 of those at Newquay Junior, and set up the 1st cycling courses about 3 years ago, although our lottery funded “Awards For All” project began in April 2008.
Where do you live?
I live in Newquay, on the north coast of Cornwall.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
Having easy access to both on and off road cycling opportunities makes it easy to avoid using the car, as well as being able to enjoy the great Cornish outdoors whilst, hopefully, getting a healthy amount of exercise!
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Cornish weather can be quite unpredictable and being a busy teacher and mum, finding time isn’t easy!
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
Relaxed, confident, cycle for the fun of it and enjoy the downhill bits best!
What is you earliest cycling memory?
Riding a big tricycle and a little thick-tyred bike down “our hill” with the other kids on our road.
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
Rotness Island in Australia.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
Getting children who have never ridden a bike to give it a go and get involved, and to giving children the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence needed to cycle more safely both on and off the road.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
Create more cycle lanes to enable safer everyday cycling opportunities.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
Having a day out cycling with family and friends on the Camel trail.
What was your worst cycling experience?
Coming off my bike, over the handle bars and crashing head first onto the road, after pedalling madly at top speed down a hill and having to break very suddenly to avoid a friend on foot; I was only 5 or 6 at the time!
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
I like having the freedom to get from place to place out in the fresh air - especially in the summer.
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Personality of the month. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Velodrome plan could be draw for Olympic
hopefuls
Friday
May 15,
2009,
08:55
PLANS are on track for a £1million
state-of-the-art velodrome to be built in Kingsteignton. The
village is bidding to become home to the South West's only outdoor
cycling track and a potential breeding ground for the next
generation of Olympic hopefuls.
The Mid Devon Cycling Club, based in Kingsteignton, is putting
together the bid and has received backing from Devon County Council
and British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport.
It will be used by sports cyclists training for competitions and by
youngsters developing their skills.
The profile of track cycling has soared in the last 12 months
following British success in the Olympics but there are no modern
training facilities within 100 miles of Torquay.
Andy Parker, Kingsteignton resident and chairman of the Mid Devon
Cycling Club, said: "It would be wonderful to see a future Olympic
cycling star emerging from the training received in our velodrome."
The council and British Cycling have agreed to co-fund the project.
Olympic success means British Cycling has money to spend on new
tracks in each of the country's 10 regions. No other areas in
Devon or Cornwall are thought to be in the running for the regional
track, which could be built in time for the next Games in 2012.
Currently the closest covered track is in Newport, South Wales, and
the nearest outdoor one in Reading.
Ken Robertson, South West regional secretary for British Cycling,
said: "This is obviously a very important development for the South
West. It will give British Cycling the opportunity to develop
a range of different cycling skills including cross country and road
racing, as well as the competitive use of a banked track. It
will also complement BMX and cross country facilities in the area."
The track is earmarked for former clay working land at Broadway.
Plans for a £3million sporting centre of excellence for Teign School
are already well-advanced. Land nearby is currently subject to
a controversial planning application by developers Arnold White
Estates which wants to build up to 600 homes.
The cycling track is subject to planning and successful negotiations
with land-owners Sibelco (formerly WBB).
There are also plans to build a cross-country and road-training
tracks alongside the velodrome.
John Smith, Devon county councillor for Kingsteignton and deputy
leader of the council, said: "I am really delighted we can extend
the range of our sports provision in Devon with this project.
"Planning, and discussions with landowners, is well under way — all
the early signs are really promising.
"Cycling is very popular in the West Country and this terrific
facility will really encourage both physical fitness and the greater
use of the growing number of dedicated cycle routes the county
council is developing across Devon."
Pupils pedal their way to awards
Monday May 18, 2009,
12:25
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SOME 100
youngsters
from
Newquay
Junior
School
were
awarded
certificates
for
their
cycling
expertise
at a
special
presentation
assembly
this
week.
The
assembly
also saw
a
special
award
for
teacher
Viv
Davy,
who
received
a signed
certificate
from
Channel
4
anchorman
and CTC
president
Jon
Snow,
for her
contribution
to
cycling
proficiency
at the
school.
Describing
Viv and
her
work,
Jon Snow
said:
"She is
a
goddess
of the
cycling
community.
She has
worked
tirelessly
to
engage
ever
greater
numbers
of young
people
in the
joys and
opportunities
of
cycling.
Her
amazing
energy
and
commitment
deserve
the very
best
recognition
we can
accord
her."
Viv will
also
appear
on the
Cycling
England
website
in June
as
'Personality
of the
Month',
along
with
Newquay
Junior
School
as a
whole
under
the
'Scheme
of the
Month'
section,
having
been the
only
school
in the
county
to have
participated
constantly
in
Bikeabilty
Cycle
training
both
during
the six
months
pilot
2006-2007
before
it was
rolled
out
nationally
and
every
term
since,
with
anything
from two
groups
upwards,
at each
level.
She was
presented
with her
award on
Friday
by Mo
Thayre,
Schools
Sports
Partnership
Development
manager,
based at
Poltair
School
in St
Austell.
Friday's
assembly
also saw
two
students
awarded
the
Bikeability
Challenge
Shield,
which is
presented
to
children
who have
trained
and
continued
cycling,
maintaining
safe
standards
taught
during
the
course.
The
award
were
presented
to
Yasemin
and
Selin
Sevinc
for
2009.
Ends
School has
own bikes
Wednesday 13th May 2009
.jpg)
Newquay Junior
School has held a special assembly to celebrate the cycling
achievements of both staff and pupils.
The Edgcumbe Avenue school actively
encourages cycling as both a green means of transport and a good way
for children to stay healthy.
Teacher Viv Davy heads up the biking initiatives working with local
and national bodies to encourage and provide cycling proficiency
training. The school now has its own trainee National
Standards Instructor and additionally is sponsoring its own bike
technician to gain a mountain bike instructors qualification as
well.
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate at Friday's assembly -
Newquay Junior School now owns its own bikes and helmets as a result
of a successful grant application to Awards for All, which is
Lottery funded. This allows the children to benefit from out of
school trips. Viv has been at the forefront of everything the school
has achieved in cycling and pupils and staff joined together at the
assembly to thank her for her hard work.
Mo
Thayre, Schools Sports Partnership Development Manager, presented
Viv with a certificate signed by Channel Four News Anchorman and
Cycle Touring Club President Jon Snow. "Viv Davey is a goddess
of the cycling community," wrote Mr Snow on the award.
But
Viv’s wasn't the only award. The school has introduced a Bikeability
Challenge Shield to recognise those who have been outstanding in
their efforts to encourage cycling. Viv wanted to give the
award to hardworking sisters Diana and Amy Chalmers but the pair
moved back to America in January because their father was re-posted
as part of the pull-out of RAF St Mawgan's Joint Maritime Facility.
This year is the first time the award has been presented but in an
effort to recognise the hard work of the Chalmers sisters, their
names were the first to be put on the trophies for 2008 when they
still attended Newquay Juniors and during which time, both girls who
cycle regularly completed the third and final level of training to
the new National Standards or Bikeability as it is better known,
prior to moving to the States. 2009's award went to Yasemin
and Selin Sevinc.
13:18hrs,
Thursday 16th April 2009
CTC’s
Inclusive
Cycling
Forum
for Deaf
and
Disabled
People
(but
also
including
people
with
long
term
health
conditions).
CTC’s
Inclusive
Cycling
Group
At a
workshop
held in
Reading
the ‘CTC
Disability
Cyclist
Forum’
decided
they
needed a
new name
and will
now be
known as
CTC’s
Inclusive
Cycling
Group.
Among
items
discussed
were
initial
plans
for a
CTC
Conference
to be
held
late in
2010 and
an area
on the
CTC
website
where
information
can be
posted.
Mission
Statement.
The
Forum
aims to
be the
point
for
information,
consultation
and
communication
on all
issues
that are
relevant
and
important
to
members
throughout
the
country.
The
Forum
will
strive
to:
Terms
of
Reference:
1.
The
Forum
shall
meet
twice a
year in
Reading;
the
meeting
shall be
open to
all
members.
2.
The
Forum is
open to
all CTC
members
who have
a
disability
or long
term
health
conditions.
3.
The
Forum
may
extend
membership
to other
people
who may
have
relevant
experience
and
services
to
offer.
4.
The
Forum
shall
have a
chair
and
minute
taker.
5.
The
Forum
will
regularly
review
its role
and its
membership
and will
agree
priorities
for
future
meetings
in
consultation
with
Forum
members
**Use the calculator to work out
figures for yourself at
http://cyclescheme.co.uk/employee,calculator.htm
 CTC's Inclusive
Cycling Forum
00:01hrs,
Wednesday 1st April 2009
On Saturday March 28th, a group of
likeminded cycling enthusiasts came together
from across the country, to discuss promoting 'all ability cycling'
and
how best to get it out into the public domain.
.jpg) .jpg)
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Just a few of the group using their specially adapted
bikes on the nearby track or trying out someone else's in practical
terms for themselves as alternatives ..
The inaugural
meeting of a new cycling forum, set up to meet the needs of anyone
who wishes to become involved in cycling irrespective of their
circumstances, was held in Reading at the weekend.
The
eclectic mix of
CTC members
involved, all have an interest in promoting cycling
to anyone who either wishes to return to cycling after an absence or
try it for the first time. This includes catering for anyone
who has any kind of impairment which they believe, might prevent
them from participating in an activity like cycling. An
example would be someone
with different, or additional needs, such as those with mental
health issues, sensory impairment, learning difficulties, or any
physical/emotional needs that make it difficult for them to be
included in cycling and other activities.
The group
includes the local
CTC Regional Cycling Champion,
members of the CTC and
National
Standard Instructors from
both Cornwall and Devon, some of
whom have to contend with such issues as ME throws up. They all plan to
meet again in the autumn and their itinerary will be to again share
their ideas and experiences, with a view to progressing the
promotion of cycling for everyone and the possibility of a
conference on the subject in 2010. Another of the groups' aim
is to campaign to ensure that a bike is recognised as a mobility aid
- as one of the members proved, himself being an amputee with his
bike replacing a wheel chair or crutches and was almost part of him
in the way a prosthetic leg would aid mobility.
Represented were a good cross section
of 'all ability' cyclists which consists of both more able
bodied cyclists and those who are also amputees together with
representatives from organisations such as
WiZZBiKE,
Wheels for Wellbeing,
London Cycling Campaign,
Cycling Projects and
Handcycling UK, the latter of which, Dame Tanni
Grey-Thompson DBE, is patron.
The CTC themselves, are involved with a project called
Life Cycle which is part of an EU Public Health programme. It
will provide cycling for health courses where possible in
partnership with General Practitioners as well as doctors and
hospitals or other health referral schemes. The courses will be flexible in terms of the
individual’s fitness, health and age.
Their involvement will focus particularly on older people and
hard-to-reach groups in four selected regions, those being
Sheffield,
Wolverhampton, Reading and Swindon
involving Black and Ethnic Minority women, mental
health and physical health groups. The aim of this project is to establish
Cycling for Health schemes as a recognised referral scheme.
As an organisation, the
CTC are committed to a vibrant and
broad base of cyclists that encompass all sectors of the community
and aim to make cycling accessible, safe and enjoyable and to
develop a new cycling culture that enriches lives and communities.
They have a membership of 60,000 people and bring together the
largest, most dynamic, most diverse, most passionate group of
cyclists in the UK.
Originally it had been hoped that the
Cornish ‘Wheels for All’ centre might have been launched on 1st
April 2009
but that has been delayed
as it is still very much a work in
progress.
However there are ongoing feasibility studies revolving around funding,
local authority support, and availability of suitable locations
which are all things that need to be taken into consideration before the
trustees of the charity, Cycling Projects, are in a position to make
any decisions. Also Plymouth is another potential venue for such a
centre so in reality, there are two possibilities in terms of
location.
In the interim,
anyone looking for directional advice on specially adapted bikes in
particular, take a look at
Velovision, which is a quarterly cycling magazine celebrating
cycle culture worldwide. It is a magazine for those passionate about
cycling, and whose interest is in the practical applications of
cycling, bikes as a transport solution, and cycling as a bridge
between like-minded people across the world.
It contains
authoritative technical material, intriguing stories of cycling
people and communities from across the world, cycling art, history
and literature, and of course the latest from the world of
specialised cycle design: work bikes, recumbents, folders, family
cycling and more.
Suppliers of such bikes are
Wise Wheels and
Quest 88, which is a UK based
company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of
therapy, mobility and rehabilitation equipment for children and
adults. Also another comprehensive guide on the manufacturers
of different adapted bikes can be found at
Bentrider Online.
Two more informative websites are
Crank it up, which is a Yorkshire
based voluntary organisation linked to Cycling Projects and Wheels
for All - this link will take you to their picture gallery of the
specially adapted bikes they use and
Cobr which gives you a list of
outlets for adapted bikes amongst many, many other cycling related
things you might want to check out. Also click here for
Sustran's Disabled people and the National
Cycle Network leaflet, which will open in a new window.
Furthermore, go to the
Beginners Programmes on this
website, to see what has been achieved by total novices wanting to
learn.
Ends
Written by
Steph on March 3rd, 2009 - Topics:
Travel,
Urban
This
... you have got to see., click on the logo or hyperlink ...
everything you can think of cardboard bikes, bikes with square
wheels., you really have to see this!
11:20am
Saturday 28th February 2009
  Gearing
up for a new Study Plus course
Released 18.45 24th February 2009
During Reading Week, Truro College graciously hosted a
National Standard (Cycling) Instructors course, which involved four
HE students and a former lecturer from the college itself.
.jpg)
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Learning to do an 'M' check from
the bike maintenance angle ~ Being briefed by lead instructor Martin
Burrows, about positioning etc. when out .on road with students
~ The end of four very intense days training
Under
Cycle Experience's auspices, Wendy Creed, a 1st year HE student
studying Sports Coaching and Therapy was Assistant Instructor
Trainer to Martin Burrows, Cycle Experience's Lead Instructor from
just across the border in Devon.
Those who trained and gained their provisional accreditation as
National Standard Instructors were Bill Ward (1st year Outdoor
Education student), Jon Williams (1st year Sports Science and Injury
Management student), Rob Cockings (2nd year Personal Trainer student) and
Mark Trebilcock (former Water Sports instructor). Others included
Karen Westbrook (Driving Instructor), Matt Wilmott (ASD
teacher with Doubletrees School) and Steve Masi (owner
and operator of Wheels on Wheels, a mobile cycle workshop that goes
into schools).
Nick
Moon, Director of Cycle Experience said “It is great to be working
with such a group of enthusiastic individuals and I am confident
that they will all make excellent instructors. A very big thank you
to Truro College for allowing us to use their facilities for the
duration of the course and again to Wendy Creed for persevering to
get this course scheduled. We look forward to working in Cornwall
again.”
The aim is that in the academic year of 2009 - 2010, it is hoped to
offer a Study Plus Cycling course at the college, run by the students who are now
professionally qualified and will go on to consolidate their
training by working with Wendy, in schools within the county which
will also form part of their Work Based Learning, again part of
their respective degree course.
Wendy said "We had a very intense but very fulfilling week. The
group dynamics were fantastic, all trainees just clicked and worked
together really well. They were all very appreciative of the fact
they all bought very different skills to the table and just as we,
the trainers were able to learn from them, so they also learned from
each other.
A classic example is that we want to include the
foundation students in the Study Plus programme and Bill is
particularly interested in doing so. Now everyone has exchanged
contacts and most of us are hoping to go and work with Matt for
precisely this reason."
Within the next six months, the newly qualified instructors will be involved in running various
courses at the end of which, they will be observed by senior
instructors. They will then, subject to delivering the courses
effectively and achieving the required outcomes, become fully
qualified National Standard Instructors.
For further information or further courses, please contact Wendy
Creed on 07762 493662 or go to
www.rsct.org.uk
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