Tewkesbury school children saddle-up for innovative cycling scheme
Schoolchildren at 10 schools across the Tewkesbury borough have signed up to take part in an innovative cycling scheme, organised by the Count Me In! programme in association with national community cycling group Get Cycling.
The Get Cycling team will visit the schools for a unique roadshow with speciality bikes to demonstrate innovative ways in which bikes can change the lives of Tewkesbury schoolchildren.
Get Cycling will teach children, from reception age to sixth form, the importance of cycling for health, fun, practicality and the environment.
The Get Cycling roadshows will be held at: Queen Margaret's Primary – May 17th; The John Moore Primary – May 18th; Tirlebrooke Primary – May 19th; Ashchurch Primary – May 20th; Carrant Brooke Junior – May 21st; Mitton Manor Primary – May 24th; Tewkesbury CofE – May 25th and Northway Infants – May 27th.
Emma Shibli, CMI cycling officer at Gloucestershire County Council said: “If there is one thing that these roadshows highlight it’s that cycling isn’t just about getting healthier, it’s also about feeling happy and having fun – whatever your age! Young people in Tewkesbury set a great example with their levels of cycling and these roadshows will help create healthy habits and happy memories that last a lifetime.”
The Get Cycling activity days include a lively assembly presentation featuring a dramatic, educational treatment of the main issues: cycling for health, fun, practicality and the environment. The Get Cycling team then explains the wonders of cycle technology and for older children there is a demonstration on cycle maintenance.
Children are then taken on a series of bike try-out sessions, where they have the opportunity to try out some truly exotic cycles. They are invited to take part in try-out sessions during which school staff and parents can learn about family cycling and see demonstrations on child trailers, kiddi-bikes and tandems.
Jim McGurn, Managing Director, Get Cycling, said: “It is wonderful to be working with the young people of Tewkesbury, and to see them benefit so much from cycling, in terms of health, happiness and just being able to get around more easily.” As part of CMI’s provision of activities to promote healthier living for Tewkesbury residents, the Government-funded programme has been organising an array of cycling activities across Tewkesbury, including the opening of the Newtown Cycle Track in April and also the free Count Me In! Festival which will take place at The Vineyards on May 30th and 31st.