It is our very great pleasure to announce that Sally Redman-Davies, Outspoken Training’s Head of Quality, has been selected for Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling 2022!
Sally joined Outspoken earlier this year, having had a fantastic career at Rutland County Council where she promoted cycling as a benefit to everyone. Her determination to use cycling as a tool for improving local communities has broken down barriers to enable people to experience the joy of cycling.
“My cycling career started with a second-hand red and white bicycle when I was 5 years old. It was my first bicycle and I absolutely loved it. As a child I cycled it everywhere, through the woods (early mountain biking!), to school every day in all weathers, to the next village, and just to have fun! What I didn’t realise at the time is that it gave me independence, resilience and confidence in my own ability.”
Sally was previously responsible for setting up and coordinating the ‘My Bike’ Project on behalf of the council, and whilst managing the council’s Bikeability programme, she noticed that there were children and other members of the community who were unable to participate and continue cycling due to a lack of access to bikes. Identifying that multiple cycles were being dropped off at the local recycling centre, Sally spoke to the manager of Environmental Waste at the council in order to acquire some of the bikes. All these bikes were being collected by HMP Stocken and being reconditioned in two workshops, giving opportunities for City and Guilds Level 1 & 2 qualifications in Cycle Maintenance. Sally arranged a visit to the prison and just happened to take a van with her, which resulted in the first 10 bikes being collected and gifted, free of charge, to the local community.
Over the course of five years, Sally regularly drove up to HMP Stocken to collect cycles, visit the workshops, and coordinate the gifting of over 600 bikes to members of the public throughout Rutland, ensuring that all residents could have access to a cycle if they wished.
“It’s the importance of being able to have that opportunity of choice. This was the underlying factor when I created the project which saw bikes dumped at the tip being taken and reconditioned at a local prison, to be given out for free to anyone in that county regardless of age or circumstance. It’s difficult to describe how fantastic this was; everyone who was involved grew with this project.”
Sally has also been responsible for coordinating and delivering cycle training for 2,000 members of the public, initially with Outspoken Training, Leicester City Council , Cycle Confident and Leicestershire County Council before she joined Rutland. This included Bikeability cycle training, Balance Bike and Learn to Ride training in schools, as well as adult one-to-one cycle skills, SUD courses and E-bike training. Sally regularly ran holiday learn to ride sessions in Rutland for children, where parents attended so Sally and her instructors could guide them on how best to support their child in continuing to ride, recognising the importance of parents achieving this milestone with their child. Through the social workers at Rutland County Council, Sally also delivered one-to-one training to children to enable them to cycle independently to school, giving them a method of independent travel for the first time.
“I just share my passion and enjoyment of cycling, whether I’m teaching cycling, instructing cycling, or coaching cycling.”
Outside of her work, Sally has also spent her free time helping enthuse and support more people to ride. Volunteering as a cycle coach she helped develop and run the Rutland Rouleur Go Ride Cycle Club, coaching young people twice a week with MTB, CX and Road Cycling skills. She has worked with scout groups to help Beavers and Cubs achieve their cycling badge through fun bike handling games, and also volunteered at a local Youth Club, borrowing a turbo trainer and bike from a local shop to run cadence challenge events.
“Remembering how I felt about that little red and white bike I had when I was 5, everyone should experience this – the access to a bike, and the access to the education to ride that bike, in order to discover the enjoyment that being on a bike can bring!”
Thanks to Sally and her tireless efforts breaking down barriers, thousands of people have been able to access and participate in cycling. Her lasting legacy is one of positivity, enthusiasm and determination. Her inspirational work has enabled more people to incorporate cycling into their everyday lives. We at Outspoken are delighted to celebrate the recognition she has received from Cycling UK as one of their 100 Women in Cycling today!