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Supporting community swim, bike, run in New Wortley

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Staff from New Wortley Community Centre and the Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coach for Armley in Leeds have recently completed the first British Triathlon Swim Bike Run Community Activator Course hosted at the community centre.

The six who took part in the course were guided in how to support the local community in getting active through swimming, cycling and running, and accessing local facilities and opportunities.

The Swim Bike Run Community Activator Course has been designed to prepare the Activators to go out and encourage people to become more active in a safe, structured, and fun way. This could be going for a walk, learning to ride a bike, or taking their first steps to the local swimming pool.

The activator course and upcoming swim, bike, run activities are a collaboration between the community centre, local activity leaders, Active Leeds and British Triathlon.

Split across four morning sessions, the Swim Bike Run Community Activator Course provided attendees with an understanding of how to ensure gatherings are safe and welcoming for participants, how to guide participants in building their confidence to take part, and supporting participants to access swim, bike, run as core drivers of physical activity and active lifestyles.

Based on swimming, cycling, running and related activities, the course guides attendees in building bike and water confidence within the local community, as well as how to lead cycling and walking and running sessions for beginner-level participants.

New Wortley is one of 17 priority places for Triathlon England’s ‘BIG Active’ initiative. Working with the community centre, local delivery partners and Active Leeds, they will provide support, guidance and opportunities within the local community and alongside community leaders to develop access, confidence and active living through swim, bike, run.

Fiona Hoare, British Triathlon Swim, Bike, Run Activator for Leeds who works alongside various community partners across the city, said: “My role is to help facilitate local deliverers to support them in growing participation in swimming, cycling and running.

“It’s really exciting to have had staff from the community centre take the activator course, and we’re now looking at how they want to explore swim, bike, run here in New Wortley and providing opportunities within the local community.”

New Wortley is home to one of multiple ‘Bike Libraries’ across the city and region where the community can access bikes, helmets and facilitated rides. Following their participation in the activator course, the community centre will be able to offer opportunities for group cycling and bike skills.

Another of these libraries, near East End Park, has been part-funded by British Triathlon to deepen the impact of AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds in growing swim, bike, run participation within the city and region.

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