INFORMATION FOR CYCLING INSTRUCTORS

Are you a Bikeability Instructor accredited to the national standard based in the Southwest? We'd like to hear from you! In the Westcountry Cycle Training Co-operative Bikeability Instructors have joined forces not only to better promote and market their activities, but also to protect their own profession.

Only by running our own organisation are we able to secure our income and provide best value for available funding for both trainees and instructors. Simplicity is the key; everyone involved works from home and is responsible for generating their own work. There are various levels of involvement possible. If you just like the teaching, but don’t like the additional organising there might still be a place within the organisation for you too!

As we are not an employer you must be self-employed to be able to join. You also must have completed the full 4 day Bikeability National Standard Instructor's course and be provisionally or fully accredited and registered with an Instructor Training Organisation (ITO). Although the co-operative has its own insurance you'll also need your own valid public liability and cycle activity provider insurance (as provided by the CTC). You will also be subject to a Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure (CRB disclosure); a £40 non-refundable joining fee is applicable to cover the costs for this.

It is important to understand that joining the co-operative is not a guarantee for work. Bikeability funding varies per area and can be very diffuse. Some schools have been running Bikeability for their pupils for years, others haven't even heard of it. If you live in an area where Bikeability is not established it is very well worth to be in touch though. As an organisation we are in a good position to secure funding and to negotiate with schools (which is impossible as an individual sole-trader). We value established relations in this process and think that local instructors should work at their local schools wherever possible. As a co-operative we also stand for fair pay and reasonable working conditions for the instructor.

Please contact us if you'd like to find out more.