Publish date: 13 January 2023
Photo left to right ( Suki Kaur, Marion Arundel, Debbie Nicholson, Adrian Camm and Amilcar Simoes)
Meet Marion and Adrian, the trust's new cycling volunteer leads. Marion and Adrian are supporting the trust's green plan objectives by helping our staff take up cycling to work and be part of the West London Get Fit community. We put together a Q&A introduction with Marion and Adrian to share their motivation for cycling.
Adrian Camm
What is a Cycling volunteer lead and what does the role entail?
The Cycling Lead volunteer is a new role created a few months ago, I'll be co-leading with Marion. Essentially it's there to help encourage and support cycling across West London NHS Trust. A large focus of the role will be setting up a BUG (Bicycle User Group), really that's just a forum to bring together cyclists and potential cyclists and looking at what the trust can do to encourage cycling, improve facilities and generally support staff who want to cycle. We'll also be involved in helping the trust work towards Cycling Friendly Employer accreditation, reviewing and hopefully enhancing cycling provision. Along the way we also hope to encourage participation in various cycling events throughout the year, including training, maintenance and a few rides
What made you want to enlist as a cycling volunteer at the West London NHS Trust?
I saw the advert for the role on a local Cycling Facebook Group. I'm semi-retired but have spent a large part of the last few years working as a Cycle Trainer, teaching adults and children to ride bikes and cycle confidently in and around London. I get a real buzz from helping people to enjoy their cycling and love seeing more people using bikes as a way of getting from A to B, this role seemed a natural extension of that.
How long have you been cycling and how does it benefit you?
Over 50 years. I started cycling when I was 4 or 5, when I was a child in rural Yorkshire. We didn't have a car, so a bicycle was just a convenient way to get from A to B, as I got older I progressed to longer rides more for the joy of seeing the countryside than practically. After I moved to London, I gave up on cycling for a while, but around 20 years ago I started again, joining a local club and riding most weekends. Since then cycling has become a way of commuting, getting together socially and providing some fun and often challenging holidays. It's also been a great way to de-stress after fraught days at work, keep fit, without feeling I had to work too hard at it and save money along the way.
What advice would you give someone who would like to cycle but lacks confidence?
Well, as a trainer I'm bound to say get some training! Most councils provide some free to local residents and to people working in the Borough. Being confident in controlling your bike is the first step, then you just need to learn a few simple techniques for riding on the road. Get used to riding on cycle paths and quiet roads first to build your control and confidence, then progress from there. Buddying up for your first few rides would also help. We hope to help support people to build their confidence, through helping find or providing appropriate training and starting a buddy scheme.
Marion Arundel
What made you want to enlist as a cycling volunteer at the West London NHS Trust?
I love cycling and have been organising women's rides locally and volunteering as a cycle buddy to support new or returning cyclists. I want to share my joy at cycling (not as a sport but as a fun and practical way to get around) so when I saw the advert on Facebook it was an enticing opportunity. I'm looking forward to working with all the staff and helping the West London NHS Trust to support employees who want to cycle or cycle more.
How long have you been cycling and how does it benefit you?
I learned to cycle as a child and loved it, I continued as a young woman. But busy London roads, pregnancy and being a mum put me off for several years until my older daughter became too fast riding her bike round the park for me to keep up with her running. I then dusted down my old bike from the shed. I began to cycle to work to get more exercise and gradually I cycled more and more. I rediscovered my childhood love of being on a bike, it makes me happy, it keeps me fit, it's a fast and convenient way to get around London and it's cheap, green and sustainable.
What advice would you give someone who would like to cycle but lacks confidence?
Start slowly and get support. Begin on local roads and in local parks. You can get some training. Look for organisations like the London Cycling Campaign which can match you with an experienced buddy.
Join social rides for beginners (Ealing Cycling Campaign and Joyriders (women only) are a couple of organisations locally which do these. Also we're here to advise and support.