Civil Service in the news
Head of the Civil Service volunteers as a cycling coach
Head of the Civil Service gets pedalling
Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, got on his bike during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate the good work of the Thames Chase Bike Project.
The project supplies bicycles to be used by mental health service users, their families and carers in Thames Chase Forest, North London, one of 12 community forests in the UK. It allows people to enjoy a large area of the woodland, engage in exercise and, in some cases, learn a new skill.
Gus pedalled alongside volunteers and service users to experience what it was like to be a volunteer. ‘The project provides a chance to talk, a chance to exercise and an opportunity to enjoy the local environment,’ said Gus. ‘It’s a fine example of the difference volunteering can make to people’s lives.’
The project grew out of an idea by key volunteer Carole Addison, who believes strongly in the benefits of keeping fit and exercise. The proposal received funding from Capital Volunteering and five bicycles were purchased at a discounted rate from a friendly local cycle shop and five were donated from a project in Camden.
The bicycles are kept to be used by mental health service users, their families and carers on site at the Thames Chase Forest Centre, based at Broadfields Farm, near Upminster. The Broadfields site has over 140 acres of land, made up of new woods, meadows, ponds and surfaced paths.
Natalie Bird, who joined the programme at the beginning of 2007, said
‘When I am on the bike I feel free and in control. The fresh air and the wind in your hair as you ride along is a lovely feeling. I am now able to get out more and have gained in confidence. I have made friends with other people and have seen the difference this project has made to them too.’
‘This programme has completely changed my life. Being more in control of my eating and doing more exercise has greatly improved my mental health. I would like to see more of these being run. It would be wonderful if they could extend this to the weekend for families to bring their children along.’
Sir Gus was extremely impressed by what he saw during his visit, and wants to encourage more civil servants to get involved in volunteering. ‘I really enjoyed going out on the bike, it was really energising. I have found the whole experience quite inspiring. Imaginative projects like Thames Chase not only make a huge difference to the lives of those who use them, but as a volunteer my day was both enjoyable and a valuable learning experience for me to take back to the office.'
‘From an employer’s point of view, volunteering is an excellent way of broadening workforce skills and bringing organisations closer to the communities in which they operate… I want the Civil Service to be a beacon for employee volunteering across the country’
