During the summer of 2009, coaches from VC Jubilee Youth Development CC, Preston Park Youth CC and Cobnor Go-Ride delivered extended activities for young people to increase their participation in cycling and sport in line with the governments "5 hour offer" programme in partnership with British Cycling.

Sport Unlimited is a nationwide initiative aiming to get more children and young people taking part in sport and physical activity, outside of school. Government funding is cascaded from Sport England to local communities via the County Sports Partnerships network.

The programme is targeted at 'semi sporty' young people who have some interest in sport, but aren't particularly involved within the community or local sports club. It will engage them in an extra 1-2 hours a week (minimum 10 weeks) of high quality, sport and physical activity.

Chidham Primary School, Chichester was one location where Coach Andy Hall, based at Cobnor Outdoor Activities Centre, delivered after school cycling activity sessions for school years 6-7. The intention was to help develop the cycling club activities further which are based at the outdoor centre, called Cobnor Go-Ride, which also recently achieved its Sport England Clubmark status. The location of the centre provides easy access to routes into the countryside and along the coastline, providing areas for cycling skill progression, and access to many other sporting activities such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, climbing etc. See www.cobnor.com for further information.

In total 14 young people regularly experience cycling activities based at the school. Many of whom demonstrate regular skill development in a final session race event. Coach Andy said,

"It was amazing to see their skills improve over a very short period. This programme will hopefully increase the club based at Cobnor so we can extend the activities at the centre, and more people can enjoy cycling activities. Hopefully members may end up going into racing in future, as we have Calshot and Portsmouth tracks quite close and Goodwood road race circuit, as well as participating in local MTB events too and joint sessions with VC Jubilee and Preston Park YCC."

Meanwhile, in Brighton, primarily located at Preston Park cycle track, activities coached by Anthony Rogers (PPYCC) and Sally Page (VCJ) were of a cycling medley nature. Track, Road and Mountain Biking were experienced by just over 30 young people ranging in age from 10 to 19. Many participants new to the sport came from partnership schools Bashvic and Dorothy Stringer, as well as new members of the 2 existing Go-Ride clubs.

The medley consisted of: 4 sessions of Track at Preston Park, 4 Road sessions, 1 Track session at Calshot Velodrome and 1 MTB session at Bedgebury Forest. The intention of these sessions was to lead young people to become more sporty and join the local Go-Ride clubs to continue their activities further because the local Go-Ride clubs have a lot to offer in respect to coaching and training sessions to keep fit. Hopefully this will lead into some of the young people taking part in the Sussex Track League next year, as well as participating in winter training sessions which both clubs run jointly.Anthony Rogers said,

"We've already seen an increase in the participants at club sessions, as well as taking part in other South East British Cycling summer holiday coach led sessions too, which is a bonus result on what we had envisaged. The programme helps us greatly to get more people more active more often which is really positive all around."

Feedback from the young people attending has been important too, so that the clubs can ensure the next time they run session like this (which will be in the Spring 2010) that they are pitched right and hopefully get more people involved in cycling. Sally Page said,

"The medley approach seemed to work really well, and all feedback was great. Some people don't realise there are so many different disciplines in cycling, and with what we've been able to do this summer hopefully offers young people to find an interest which they'll continue with for a long time, and for some maybe more than one discipline!"

For the Spring 2010 sessions Anthony and Sally envisage more Track, velodrome and Mountain Biking sessions. With the intent of participants leading into the Sussex Track League season or to continue on their Friday Track training sessions and club MTB sessions.

Any one interested in participating next season should keep any eye on both clubs' websites, or contact Sally Page or Anthony for further information.

www.vcjubilee.co.uk vcjubilee@vcjubilee.co.uk Sally Page 01273 843859
www.ppycc.org.uk Anthony@ppycc.org.uk Anthony Rogers 01273 883956