Leicester Tigers and Aggregate Industries are driving forward their #GetOnYourBike campaign visiting secondary schools across Leicestershire.
The team recently visited Castle Rock High School in Coalville sharing tips on how to keep safe whilst on their bike, including advice on the potential hazards, the importance of wearing a helmet, the benefits of high-visibility clothing and some best-practice cycling etiquette.
With the school enjoying its first term as a part of the Aggregate Industries Concrete Rugby programme – a free initiative for school pupils to be coached by professional Tigers coaches and learn more about living a safe and healthy lifestyle – we caught up with the school to see how they were getting on.
Joe Reynolds, Leicester Tigers rugby development officer, runs the weekly sessions for pupils and was joined by Paul Denby, health and safety business partner, and Steve White, senior health and safety adviser from Aggregate Industries.
Paul and Steve shared their expertise as the latest ROSPA report has highlighted that a total of 1,981 children were injured as the result of a cycling accident on the road in 2016, 309 of which were seriously injured.
Paul said: “We’re visiting Castle Rock High School today to assist with the rugby sessions today as well as chat with each group about cycle safety as part of our #GetOnYourBike campaign.
“Focusing particular on safety around HGV’s and built-up areas, it’s been great to chat to boys and girls at the school and hopefully encourage them to get out and about this summer."
Steve added: “It’s been great to see the kids getting so involved not just with the rugby, but with our series of talks throughout the school year too. Tigers and Aggregate Industries offer a great programme in Concrete Rugby and it’s rewarding to see first-hand the results. ”
The ‘Get on Your Bike’ campaign has been designed to get school children in Leicestershire more active and spend more time cycling. It will have reached out to more than 1,500 Leicestershire students aged 11-14 by the end of the 2017/18 school year.
As the next phase of the programme, Leicester Tigers and Aggregate Industries will be visiting numerous schools across the region to discuss health and nutrition.
Aggregate Industries is also hosting a social media campaign, encouraging pupils to get involved by asking a friend to take pictures or videos of them with their bike (in a safe space) and tweeting @aggregateuk, using the hashtag #GetOnYourBike.
