Trio of Instructors Reach 10 Years with Outspoken Training

Helen, Ian and Wayne have all been with Outspoken for a full decade of delivering high quality cycle training! All three have been working with us since June 2015, and have been delivering training for even longer. We spoke to them about their experience and time with us, read the conversation below.
Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Helen

When my children were young, I was looking for a job that fitted in with family life and when I saw the post advertised I applied. I used to ride with my children to Primary School and encouraged them to ride when at Senior School. So, passing these life skills onto other children appealed to me. There is not one particular child [that stands out in memory] but it’s the ones that struggle on the playground during L1 but by the end of the course are confident happy riders that stand out.

It is a very rewarding job, the children love the training, and it is great to see them enjoying learning how to ride on the road. You get to meet and work with great Instructors, and you are supported by the office staff at Outspoken.

Ian

I’ve worked Bikeability for since 2012, when I started at Northampton council, along with approximately 6 others. I like to think I’m good at my job. I enjoy working with the children and they are willing to learn and are well behaved.

Being young at heart, we old people think we’re 55 going on 25 but [the instructors] I work with are fantastic and respect my opinion and work ethic. It’s a great job and now summer’s here, all the better.

Wayne

When I was made redundant after 27 years working in a factory,  I decided to try  something  completely different, and I had always been a keen cyclist. I really enjoy going to different schools every week, I have also have made some very good friends, past and present over the last 10 years. There have been so many [children] over the years, but I always remember the children can’t ride at the start of the session, and by the end of the session they are riding round and don’t want to stop when it is time to go back into school.

When you first start the job, don’t be afraid to ask your more experienced instructors for advice. It may also seem a lot to learn after your first course, but remember we were all new instructors once.

We would like to congratulate and thank our instructors for reaching such an impressive milestone, and helping thousands of children improve their cycling skills over the years.