Following last year’s launch, our Total Computers coaching scholarships have changed the lives of 18 inspiring individuals with unrivalled support and insight – and applications are now open for the 2023 programme.
The scholarships were launched for the first-time last year and saw the first intake gain access to British Cycling qualifications, a coach developer, coaching opportunities with the Great Britain Cycling Team and talent teams, unique development experiences at major events and the opportunity to learn from a community of scholars on a similar journey.
British Cycling is determined to widen access to coaching opportunities and help make the nation’s coaching workforce more diverse. The scholarships aim to provide people from underrepresented groups with a funded and supported route towards inspiring and encouraging others’ participation in cycling.
This year’s intake will see 50% of the places allocated to women, two scholarships each for coaches from Scotland, Wales, and the West Midlands, and two scholarships for aspiring BMX Freestyle coaches.
Education Delivery Manager, Robbie George, said:
“The Total Computer Scholarships are so important to shape the future of our sport. The scholarships provide life changing opportunities for aspirant career cycling coaches to accelerate the development pathways of those that are committed to developing themselves and cycling.
“At British Cycling we want to diversify the coaching workforce at all levels, and create a coaching development framework that will last beyond the scholarship and support the wider coaching workforce.
“Our scholars from the last year have not only developed as coaches, but as people, and we’re excited to be part of a bright future of cycling.”
Total Computers' Marketing and eCommerce Director Ben O'Brein said:
“Total Computers are delighted to continue our partnership with British Cycling. At Total, we’re strong advocates of equality of opportunity and so we’re thrilled to be helping British Cycling’s drive to increase diversity of participation.”
Spotlight: Meg Chard
Former professional cyclist Meg Chard made the transition to coaching post-retirement and was the youngest woman to complete the UCI’s prestigious Directeur Sportif (DS) course, to become a DS with Saint Piran’s UCI Continental Race Team. Chard saw the opportunity to further her development and was selected for the Total Computers Scholarship programme in 2022.
She said: “The Total Computers Scholarship Programme has enabled me to further my coaching career in addition to meeting some amazing people who have become some of my closest friends.
“I was told in January that I would be working with Nicky Harverson as a coach developer, and we clicked straight away. I know that I can go to her for anything, and she always provides me with the best advice that allows me to develop as an individual in the most effective way.
“The scholarship provides me with not only opportunities to develop as a coach, but also the support and encouragement to really pursue all my goals and believe in myself – like they believe in me.”
Spotlight: Junaid Ibrahim
Teacher Junaid Ibrahim joined British Cycling as a scholar in 2022. As a passionate cyclist and aspirant racer, with a passion for inspiring the next generation, Ibrahim was a co-founder of Brothers on Bikes – a club that introduces cycling to the Muslim community across the country. Ibrahim plans to use his share what he has learnt from the Total Computer Scholarship to continue to grow the sport.
He said: “From the induction back in January in Manchester, things have been World Class. My personal highlight is the short session with Bloomy (Head Coach – BMX, Great Britain Cycling Team). The humbleness he showed that he, despite winning gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games with Beth Shriever, doesn't have all the answers, and that it's the teamwork of the whole organisation which allows the golds to flow. It's that same love I've felt from BC that makes me feel part of the larger set-up.
“I have been a teacher in Hackney schools for seven years and even though it is a very cycling centric borough, there has been an even bigger push for active travel since the Covid-19. Since taking up the scholarship, I have been super lucky to be involved with British Cycling’s City Academies, an immense project which I believe will be life changing for the participants involved, whether they go onto make it to the Olympics, or continue riding recreationally.”
