British Cycling will be launching a brand new young volunteer programme called Racemakers at the Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International, first Olympic cycling test event, on Sunday 31st July 2011.
Racemakers will build on the success of the Cycling Award for Young Volunteers and help to encourage more young leaders to get involved in cycle sport. This is the first step into event volunteering for 14-18 year olds and may lead to further officiating courses to create support opportunities at national and international events.
Racemakers has been granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The programme combines a practical workshop with volunteering at a local club in preparation for planning and delivering supervised entry level bike races in school and community settings.
On Sunday, young volunteers will assist with the staging of a day's Go-Ride Racing whilst the world's best mountain bikers make the most of their opportunity to test next year's Olympic course.
John Mills, British Cycling's Coaching Education and Development Director, believes the introduction of Racemakers is an important development for young volunteers in the sport, saying: "This is a great step forward in educating and inspiring more young people to get involved in volunteering within cycle sport.
"By harnessing the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games through the Inspire Programme, we are increasing the quantity and expertise of young leaders in our sport which in turn will increase the opportunities for young people to participate in cycling races. The Racemakers will be fantastic ambassadors for cycle sport and could become part of the next generation of national and international level organisers and officials."
To get involved in the ‘Racemaker' Programme please contact Colin Humphreys or Andrew Chaston in the Go-Ride team on 0161 274 2070 or visit the Go-Ride contact page for further information.
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