British Cycling has teamed up with Connect Mental Health, a provider of Mental Health First Aid England courses, to offer low-cost, accessible training to British Cycling members and volunteers.

With the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic with regards to both physical and mental health, it is more important than ever that more people know how to identify when someone is experiencing ill health – and how to support them. Connect Mental Health is on a mission to provide opportunities for safer and wider conversations around mental health, and at an affordable cost.

There are four courses on offer at flexible times with savings of up to £225 on offer, so book while you can. Each course is led by an accredited Mental Health First Aid England trainer and comes with resources, activity workbooks and a certificate upon completion.

Please note that the courses are only accredited in England.

The courses are:

• Adult Mental Health First Aider (2 day)
• Youth Mental Health First Aider (2 day)
• Mental Health Champion (1 day)
• Mental Health Aware (half day)

Adult or Youth Mental Health First Aider – 2 day (£75.00 – RRP £300)

This online course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider, giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing.
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues.
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress.
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening.
• Knowledge to help someone recover by guiding them to further support - whether that’s self-help resources, through their employer, the NHS, or a mix.

Courses with a youth focus will also cover:

• Knowledge of how to help a young person recover by guiding them to further support – whether that’s through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS or a mix – engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate.
• Ability to support a young person with a long-term mental health issue or disability to thrive.

Two training options are offered for each course (Adult/Youth). Either complete across 2 x 8 hour sessions or 4 x 3.5 hour sessions.

Dates:

Mental Health Champion – 1 day (£55.00 – RRP £200.00)

This one-day course qualifies you as an MHFA Champion, giving you: 

• An understanding of common mental health issues. 
• Knowledge and confidence to advocate for mental health awareness.
• Ability to spot signs of mental ill health.
• Skills to support positive wellbeing.

Two training options are offered. Either complete across 1 x 8 hour session or split it across 2 x 3.5 hour sessions.

Dates:

Mental Health Aware Course – 0.5 days (£30 – RRP £125)

This course raises awareness of mental health, and covers: 

• What mental health is and how to challenge stigma.
• A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues.
• An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing.
• Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

Two training options are offered. Either complete across 1 x 4 hour session or split it across 2 x 2 hour sessions.

Dates:

UK Coaching also offer an elearning course - Mental Health Awareness for Sport & Physical Activity - for £12. This course is free for UK Coaching Subscribers and British Cycling Members can get a 20% discount on UK Coaching Subscriptions by using code CYCLE20.