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British Cycling has announced that its 12th HSBC UK Disability Hub will open in Stourport, improving access to the sport for people with disabilities in the West Midlands.
The first two-hour session will be held at Stourport Sports Club on 31st March and delivered monthly thereafter by qualified British Cycling coaches.
HSBC UK Disability Hubs have welcomed over 5,000 riders to traffic-free locations across the country since their inauguration in 2014, and this new site is aiming to help provide more accessible coaching in the West Midlands. British Cycling opened its 11th HSBC UK Disability Hub in Middlesbrough last year.
British Cycling’s cycling delivery manager for the West Midlands, Amy Gardner, said: “This new opening marks an exciting new chapter for our ever-expanding network of HSBC UK Disability Hubs. We are very pleased to be expanding the programme to the West Midlands for the first time, where riders are able to develop their skills in a fun and enjoyable environment, making cycling a part of their lives. I’m looking forward to seeing first-hand the successes of this twelfth hub in Stourport.”
Disability hub sessions are organised and delivered by British Cycling coaches at dedicated cycling facilities, offering support for people with a physical or learning impairment to improve their fitness, technique and confidence. Suitable for those just starting out in the sport or rehabilitating from an injury through to athletes looking to compete, coached activities are tailored to riders’ aims and requirements. With adapted equipment such as handcycles, tandems, trikes and bikes to support a range of impairments, interested riders do not need to bring their own bike.
Luke Harper, HSBC UK’s head of the British Cycling partnership, said: “Our partnership with British Cycling is very much focused on grassroots activity, and it is important to give people the opportunity to get on a bike for the first time, develop their skills or improve their fitness. We are proud to be part of this new disability hub in Stourport, providing support to those in and around the West Midlands who may not have had the opportunity through cycling before.”
