By Megan Armitage

British Cycling are using the success of Paris 2024 to promote an open dialogue on mental health using people’s shared love of bikes.

Team GB cycling stars picked up 11 medals across four disciplines at the Paris 2024 Olympics and are now using their platform to inspire people to take up the sport for its mental and physical health benefits as part of the new National Lottery backed ChangeMakers initiative which will see athletes give back to communities which have supported them during their Olympic journeys.

Just days after returning back home from the French capital Katy Marchant, Josie Knight, Sophie Capewell and Beth Shriever brought their local community together at the sport’s base in Manchester for a mental health workshop at MCR Bike Kitchen’s Tea & Tinker project.

With the initiative made possible by The National Lottery’s operator Allwyn’s annual Social Value Fund, British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton now hopes that opportunities like this can inspire more people to get on a bike and experience the physical and mental health benefits of cycling.

“We’re very cognisant that we’ve got a young team,” he said. “Out of 31 riders, 16 of them made their Olympic debut in Paris and we loved providing a culture that allowed people to perform at the best.

“To do that, it’s not just about physical wellbeing, it’s about mental wellbeing too. It’s about people feeling healthy and happy and allowing that opportunity to get on the field of play and do exactly what they’ve done at the Games.

“We’re really proud of creating that environment.

“But it’s not just about what happened in Paris, it’s also about promoting positive mental wellbeing across communities in Great Britain and getting people out on a bike, riding in the sunshine and in nature.”

The ChangeMaker initiative is a partnership between The National Lottery’s operator, Allwyn, Team GB, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport to support Great Britain’s athletes to make a positive difference to social impact projects they are passionate about.

Dutton noted that British Cycling have always had a passion for inspiring change in their community and were thrilled to see the new programme jump on the back of their Olympic success.

And with the emphasis on just getting on a bike and having fun, Dutton hopes that the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic cycling stars can be inspired through change.

“We’ve got a really significant social impact programme so supporting ChangeMakers was a natural fit for us,” he added.

“Cycling is ubiquitous. It’s a life skill of liberation, freedom, and of course, what we’ve seen of last two weeks in Paris, people following the dreams and performing at the highest level.

“We are just so pleased to be involved with an organization that cares passionately about making a difference in local communities.

“People can enjoy riding a bike in multiple different ways, but it’s our purpose to bring the joy of cycling to everyone.

“Whether it’s aspiring someone to be the next Jack Carlin, Katie Archibald, or whether you just want to get on a bike and have fun.”

The ChangeMaker initiative is a partnership between The National Lottery’s operator, Allwyn, Team GB, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport to support Great Britain’s athletes to make a positive difference to social impact projects they are passionate about.