Velo Volunteers
Volunteering… Could You?
Newbury Velo is run by its members for its members. The more members rally together to help, the more opportunities there are to ride and socialise together - for everyone.
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer. Some, like coaching, require a regular commitment, but most are occasional and infrequent roles. We provide training for many roles, including ride-leading.
If you want to develop new skills and get that feel-good factor from giving something back to your club, get in touch using our contact form here.
Tandem Pilots
Piloting a tandem to enable a blind or partially sighted rider to feel the wind in their hair is one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences offered by the club because of the one-to-one experience of helping someone who would not usually be able to ride a bike, or jump onto a saddle and just pedal.
Working with local sight loss charity Berkshire Vision, we’ve helped visually impaired children and adults enjoy cycling. Our Tandem Project has received support from local businesses, but it would not be possible without our team of trained tandem pilots.
Group Ride Leading
Sunday and mid-week group rides enable more people to ride than any other club activity, but they don’t happen without ride leaders; ride leaders plan our routes and take rides out at various speeds to ensure everyone can have a safe and enjoyable ride. Our group rides are not races but social rides with much chitter-chatter. As a ride leader, you keep the heart of the club beating. Look at our Ride Leader Guidance to understand what ride leading entails.
Time trials, Hill Climbs and Cyclocross
It takes between 5 and 10 volunteers to run a time trial and even more to host a cyclocross event. Either may sound daunting, but you don’t need to be a seasoned racer to help. Roles like timekeeping or starting marshal are very simple, and you get a chunk or cake at the end, just like the competitors!
Another hugely popular volunteering activity is the annual sweep! You’ll find a team of broom-wielding club volunteers out on Walbury Hill the day before our timed club hill climb, brushing aside the gravel and debris before heading off for hot chocolate and sticky buns at the Crown and Garter in Inkpen.
Coaching Children and Adults
Coaching children to either learn to ride a bike or to develop their skills to ride better or more safely is hugely rewarding. All our coaches attend British Cycling Coaching Courses, funded by the club, and are Disclosure Baring Service (DBS) checked, so the commitment is more long-term, but we don’t have a single coach who regrets taking up this vital role. As well as coaching children, we run ad-hoc skills training for adults in various cycling disciplines. Check out our coaching page, or contact our Lead Coach, Mel Sneddon.
Tours and Longer Rides
Our Tours allow members to enjoy weekend-long touring and longer rides in locations like the New Forest and The Isle of Wight. They are generally led by one of our more experienced ride leaders. They sometimes involve bike packing or more luxurious stays in a Premier Inn or similar hotel. Taking place over one, two, or three days, they are enjoyable events that bring club members of all abilities together for an extended social gathering.
Our Social Gatherings
Yes, we all love riding bikes, whether it's leisurely canal path bimbles, exploring the gravel of the New Forest or the thrill of racing a time trial, but the social side of the club is equally important. Our social secretary, Lisa Boorman, organises monthly social gatherings, our summer BBQ, Christmas celebration, and our Annual Awards evening. Despite her youthful, never-ending energy and enthusiasm levels, Lisa needs a team of supporters to make all this happen. If you'd like to play a part, please get in touch with Lisa; she'd love to hear from you.