Read This School pupils pedal ahead in South East By Francesca Baker-Brooker Contributor Published 24th Jul 2024, 12:39 BST Comment Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276 Visit Shots! now New figures from The Bikeability Trust show over 81,290 children in the South East had the opportunity to get pedalling with Bikeability cycle training between April 2023 and March 2024. The top performing authorities in the South East for 2023–24 were Portsmouth, Hampshire and Wokingham. Across England 560,471 pupils booked on to Bikeability training between April 2023 and March 2024.
Bikeability cycle training equips children with vital life skills. Pupils not only learn to cycle, they gain independence, social skills and a sense of wellbeing. After Bikeability, children are better at responding to risk and report increased confidence.
As a result, more children cycle to school which in turn improves mental health and wellbeing. This allows children to get more out of the classroom, improving their attention span and engagement. Healthier habits lead to increased attendance and improved academic results.
Bikeability isn’t just a training course; it impacts children’s lives. The Bikeability Trust Chief Executive Emily Cherry said: “I’m so proud of the 81,290 children in the South East who are now equipped with the skills and confidence to thrive on a cycle. We know that there are so many physical and mental health benefits of cycling, and through Bikeability training these children will be able to make more sustainable transport choices for the rest of their lives.
We couldn’t do it without our brilliant instructors and training providers in the South East, who are so committed to teaching young people this essential life skill. Well done everyone.” Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting.
.. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Notice and Terms of Service apply.
“We are so excited by this news, but we know we have further to go. That’s why our mission is to ensure no child leaves school without the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to cycle. We know that the government shares that ambition, and we were pleased to see the commitment to give every child access to Bikeability cycle training reiterated in Active Travel England’s recent Corporate Plan.
Bikeability teaches children to cycle and equips them with skills for life. “Our latest impact report shows just what has been achieved, through the hard work and commitment of everyone involved. As a charity we are child focused, quality oriented , inclusive, efficient, influential and collaborative, working tirelessly to deliver to achieve our vision and ensure Bikeability is a household name.
Bikeability will continue to grow, expanding to more areas, reaching more young people, as we continue to break down barriers to unlock cycling for everyone who wants to join in.” Related topics: South East Portsmouth Hampshire Comment Comment Guidelines National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting.
Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting..
