An SSE employee has recently delivered a much-needed Bikeability Scotland programme to the primary seven class at Bridgend Primary School in Alness, Scotland.
Mark Wilson, who works as a Network Planning Engineer in SSE's Inverness depot, teamed up with Derrick Cronie, a project manager with BT, and Sally Waite, a volunteer worker, to deliver the course having completed the training for it earlier this year. Bikeability is a three level, modern equivalent of cycling proficiency, designed to give children the skills and confidence when cycling on the road. The team then spent every Tuesday morning for the last seven weeks of the autumn term working with all 28 pupils from the class.
Thanks to SSE's Be the difference scheme (formerly known as Community at Heart), which gives every employee a day away from their normal work duties to help out in their local community, Mark has been able to take the time away from the office.
Mark said: "My wife works as a teacher at Bridgend and when I heard that they were looking for help delivering the programme I volunteered. I've really enjoyed working with the pupils over the last few weeks and I'm delighted that some of my colleagues donated their day to me so I could take a morning off each week for the course. We were also helped out by some pretty good weather! I'm planning to do the same next year and I hope that as well as enjoying themselves, it has given the children a better idea about the importance of being safe when they are out and about on their bikes.”
Ewan Scott, head teacher at Bridgend added: "As a school, we were delighted that Mark, Derrick and Sally were willing to give up their time to come and deliver the cycling programme to our primary seven class this year. We think it is extremely important for the children to go through the training so they can gain the skills they need to ensure they can cycle safely on the road. I think it's fair to say that all the children have enjoyed the programme and we are grateful to the volunteers for helping us ensure the pupils are put through their paces.”
Since the launch of SSE’s Community schemes in 2009, SSE employees have dedicated over 24,000 days (the equivalent of 194,000 hours) to thousands of deserving projects right across Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Pictured: The pupils of Bridgend Primary School In Alness are benefitting from the Bikeability Scotland programme thanks to SSE’s Be the difference scheme.