Volunteers: In Focus - July 2023

Volunteers: In Focus - July 2023

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03 August 2023

Volunteers make sport happen, without them, cycling activities simply wouldn't happen on the scale they do. With a look back to last month, we wanted to continue to highlight the wonderful efforts volunteers have gone to in their local areas.

July sees two crucial volunteer roles highlighted, Event Organisers and Coaches. Putting on events to enable people to compete is crucial to the health of the sport whilst coaching people, whatever their goals, means more and more people improve their riding skills and knowledge. Well done to those nominated this month and thanks to every volunteer up and down the country!

Name: Austin Bell and the Charlotteville Cycling Club

Region: South East

Role: Event Organiser

On Wednesday July 5th, Austin and the team from Charlotteville Cycling Club organised final races of the regional youth series that included under 8s, under 10s, under 12s, under 14s and under 16s girls and boys races on a closed road town centre circuit. These races were then followed by the women's and men's National Circuit Series races.

It was an amazing opportunity and experience for the youth riders to ride in such a prestigious setting, with a sizeable crowd who were cheering and banging on the advertising barriers during each pass. This was on the same circuit as the National A E/1/2 riders who raced later in the evening which included the historic cobbled High Street.

Austin and his team were able to secure sponsors form Canyon, Cycle Exchange, Motion, Parcours and Experience Guildford. Jon Dutton, British Cycling Chief Executive, was delighted to be in attendance and present the youth winners with their medals.

The South East regional team noted the following:

“To put on such a successful event takes a great deal of planning and organising and is a huge commitment. As with most volunteers, Austin and his team did this above their own day jobs.”

A huge thank you to Austin and all involved in making this great spectacle of sport happen!

More on organising events

Charlotteville Cycling Club

British Cycling Values: Unity, Passion


Name: Hannah Escott

Region: West Midlands

Role: Cycle coach

Hannah Escott (Great Britain Cycling Team racer 2015-2018 and 2016 and 2019 Elite Women’s World 4X Series Champion), leads Open Trail's cycle activity and offers a wide range of cycle coaching for all ages and abilities.

Hannah has led the construction of Burlish Bike Park in Worcestershire. Set in the beautiful Burlish Woodland in Stourport on the edge of Kidderminster, the site offers the perfect grounds for a fun day of riding for the whole family. It’s a place for small children to master their first trail, for older children and teenagers to ride with their friends and adults to enjoy all the happiness of an enclosed woodland space offering opportunities to ride or to relax.

A delighted participant recently fed this back:

“Hannah you and your team have done an amazing job! Well done, it’s so lovely for the kids to have something amazing do in the local community.”

Burlish Bike Park

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British Cycling Values: Innovation, Passion