Jane at the award ceremony with gold medallist and Captain of GB men’s athletic squad Stephen Miller
PCP achiever, Jane Pickard, has been rightfully awarded the Gateshead College North East Award for Learning through Sport.
Judith Doyle, Deputy Principle at Gateshead College presented Jane with her award by at the North East’s Regional Adult Learner’s Week Awards celebration event at Gateshead College Academy for Sport last week.
A deserving winner, Jane began her time at the Pioneering Care Centre 2010, as a member of the Get Active, Get Cycling Group. It was at this point when she really started using cycling as a platform to transform her life.
Due to a series of traumatic family events, Jane, aged 48, suffered almost 10 years of very ill health. Her mental and physical health problems were having a significant impact on her family and in 2010 her daughters persuaded her to try cycling as a way of getting out of the house and meeting new people.
Although she had never cycled before Jane joined the Group and although she was extremely nervous at first, this decision turned her life around.
Jane enjoyed it so much she soon completed her Cycle Marshall training and achieved a First Aid Certificate enabling her to lead cycle rides. Jane also completed a Food Safety Level 2 whilst volunteering in the Pioneering Care Centre’s Coffee Shop, where she has now found employment.
She went on to train as a cycling coach and obtained her British Cycling Level 1, this encouraged her to become a self employed Get Active, Get Cycling instructor giving her the satisfaction of coaching others and she hopes to achieve the British Cycling Level 2 Award.
Jane is still achieving and has just obtained her RSPH (Royal Society of Public Health Award) Level 2 in Understanding Health Improvement, and is qualified as a volunteer Health Trainer Champion.
Liz Godfrey, PCP Learning and Guidance Co-ordinator nominated Jane and says “Throughout her learning journey Jane’s mental and physical wellbeing have improved significantly which has meant her confidence and self esteem have soared making her an excellent ambassador for cycling and physical activity which should be an inspiration to others. She has ambitions to build a successful career in health and wellbeing to help people who have been in similar positions.”
Further information from: the Pioneering Care Partnership, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe, tel: 01325 321234 email: enquiries@pcp.uk.net www.pcp.uk.net
