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A police officer from Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) has helped school pupils to get cycling with an ambitious initiative that saw him go the extra mile to get children pedalling.

PC Will Wright saw cycling as an effective way to answer complaints of congestion and unsafe parking during the school-run hours at Parkway
Middle School in Haverhill.

But instead of delivering a quick safety lesson, PC Wright went much further to ensure that the children felt safe and capable when on a bicycle.

PC Wright says: “Cycle safety sessions are undoubtedly important, but to really get the pupils cycling, I worked closely with local partners such as Suffolk County Council to secure funding for cycle helmets and the school PTA who provided cycle locks.”

After parents raised concerns about the standard of their children’s cycling, Will began a series of after-school Suffolk Young Cyclist Training Course sessions which is promoted and co-ordinated by Suffolk County Council’s Roadsafe team.

Will said: “It has proven successful perhaps because everyone from the children to the parents and the teachers are involved from the
beginning for consultation and planning.

"One parent in Haverhill was a graphic designer and created a design for the bicycle helmets. The head teacher has since made them part of the school uniform which is extremely effective.”

The cycle safety sessions have since been followed up with regular appearances from Will in the school’s PSHE classes.

He said: “Making regular appearances in some of the children’s other classes means that I’m not a face that appears for a few days and is
then forgotten.

"It’s vitally important that young people can
recognise and rely on you. I feel that making regular appearances has made me more approachable as an officer and young people can speak to me about issues that are concerning them.”

David Daw, road safety officer for Suffolk County Council applauds PC Wright’s work.

He said: “PC Wright has clearly gone above and
beyond the call of duty for the local schools in his area.

"His work did not stop at the delivery of the cycle training, but instead he looked at
the obstacles that could prevent children from cycling to school and managed to secure funding for helmets, locks and lights and went back to
the school to give regular road safety messages.

"These are all things that an outside cyclist training organisation would not have been able
to provide. Such a proactive and holistic approach has been key in the success of the initiative.”

Ian Kearns, head teacher of Parkway Middle,
said: “PC Wright’s work has been exemplary. Not only has his work contributed greatly to the safety of our children but it has also created opportunity for PC Wright to build effective community relationships with pupils and parents.

"Working with the police in a proactive and positive way can only help foster good relationships and therefore make our neighbourhoods safer.”

*Our picture shows cycling pupils at Parkway Middle School with PC Will Wright.