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Outspoken’s Anna wins Bikeability national top cycle instructor title




Haddenham-based Outspoken Training cycle instructor Anna Hay during a mechanics sessions
Haddenham-based Outspoken Training cycle instructor Anna Hay during a mechanics sessions

Outspoken Training’s cycle instructor Anna Hay has been recognised for her work inspiring more children to cycle by winning the Cycle Instructor of the Year title at the National Bikeability Awards 2020.

Anna beat 2,750 cycle instructors to win the award thanks to her exceptional work delivering Bikeability cycle training to Cambridgeshire school pupils.

Bikeability is a modern-day cycle training programme aiming to equip children with the skills, understanding and confidence to make more journeys by bicycle. There are three Bikeability cycle training levels taking riders from the basics of balance and control off-road, all the way to planning and making an independent journey on busier roads.

“First and foremost, Anna is an exceptional instructor who always demonstrates best practise,” says Bikeability of her win. “She consistently delivers the national standards for cycle training to a high standard and creates a learning environment that is fun and enjoyable. Over the last year she has delivered training in 32 schools with an average feedback score of 9.6 out of 10 across these schools.

“Anna consistently develops great relationships with schools, teachers and children built on regular feedback and communication which is informative and celebrates achievements. The consistently high feedback and testimonials she receives demonstrate the fantastic rapport and reputation she has created in the six years she has delivered Bikeability training.

“Last summer, Anna worked as the Instructor delivering four Bikeability Plus modules - balance, fix, Learn to Ride and promotion - to four schools in rural Fenland communities across Cambridgeshire over a five-week period. Supporting children in these school, she was very proud of the fact that in the Learn to Ride modules she helped 47 children to learn to ride for the first time.”

Anna Hay, Outspoken Training instructor, with her Bikeability certificate
Anna Hay, Outspoken Training instructor, with her Bikeability certificate

Anna went the extra mile during the Bikeability Plus school project to four primary schools in the fenlands. Over five weeks she “delivered a variety of cycling interventions aimed at increasing the number of pupils cycling to school”. The results were fantastic:

- The number of children cycling to school rose from 158 to 337 (an increase of 113 per cent)

- 83 children were introduced to cycling through balance bike training

- 47 children learnt how to ride for the first time

- 32 children became junior bike mechanics

In particular, Anna had a huge impact on one pupil’s school life, according to a teacher: “One of our pupils had become a very reluctant learner at school. He would often lack motivation and interest in most subjects leading to a closed mind set. Anna got him to try different types of cycle at the cycle try out show. Then the magic happened, Anna got him lapping the track. Not only did the whole crew at the show give him a round of applause but so did his peers, his teachers and his mum who was working at the school. After speaking to his mum later, she explained how his love of cycling has been the catalyst to a great improvement in his studies and that she was so pleased he has found something which has helped improve his studies and his outlook to learning.”

Anna Hay, Bikeability Cycle Instructor of Year 2020
Anna Hay, Bikeability Cycle Instructor of Year 2020

This is the second year running that a Cambridgeshire based instructor has won this award following Chris Lee’s success last year. Kieron McNab, managing director of Outspoken Training, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Bikeability provider, said: “I am thrilled that Anna has been recognised for her fantastic work inspiring more people to cycle. It is testament to her hard work, dedication, and passion to equip pupils with the skills and enthusiasm to cycle more. I hope Anna enjoys her well-earned success.

“I am incredibly proud of all our instructor who work exceptionally hard to help more people build cycling into their everyday lives. It is brilliant to see that two of our instructors have been recognised for their life-changing work.”

Since 2007 more than 3.1 million school pupils have received training with over 9,000 Cambridgeshire pupils participating per year thanks to grant funding secured by Cambridgeshire County Council and delivered by Outspoken Training.

Advice for cyclists in the era of social distancing is available here.



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