A nationwide search for volunteers to play a part in the Tour de France in Cumbria.
Applications open today for JOY Makers, who help make the race’s Grand Departs run seamlessly.
Cumbria will host the Tour de France on July 2 2027 in Carlisle and July 3 2027 in Keswick.
Anyone aged 16 and over is encouraged to apply to be a JOY Maker, with no prior volunteering experience needed.
A range of roles to support event operations and enhance spectator experience are available on both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, with full training provided.
People can apply to be a JOY Maker via www.letourgb.com/volunteer with registrations open from today until Tuesday September 1 2026.
To mark the opening of applications and launch the programme, TV presenter and broadcaster Radzi Chinyanganya joined a group of current volunteers getting behind the Grands Départs.
Radzi said: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t a volunteer when I was in my teens. I was a media volunteer and now I’m working in media – I’m living proof that volunteering can lead to something amazing. I’m so excited for everyone to get involved – it will truly be an unforgettable experience.
“Knowing what you want to do when you’re young can be intimidating and it’s also unprecedently hard to get work experience at the moment.
“Applying to be a JOY Maker can help you explore new opportunities and navigate your career path, all whilst being part of making history. Whoever you are, whatever your age or your background – JOY Makers is open to everyone – if you want to bring joy, we want you.”
The JOY Makers programme is designed to be accessible to all, from those with experience volunteering at major events and British Cycling activities to first-time volunteers, in particular from underrepresented groups in volunteering, including 16 to 25-year-olds.
Those aged 18 to 25 years old will be eligible to join the Readiness to Work scheme, that will be launched as part of the JOY social impact programme.
The scheme will provide a comprehensive package of employability skills training and career-focused mentoring across multiple sectors. Coupling this with the volunteering experience will provide young people with a well-rounded and practical work experience offer.
Together, the volunteer programme and Readiness to Work scheme aim to leave behind a passionate and skilled collective of volunteers, creating a lasting legacy for the Grands Départs in communities across the country.
In addition to this legacy, British Cycling – supported by partners across the three nations – is urging government to commit £30million critical capital investment to deliver a range of new and upgraded cycling facilities across Britain, reaching underserved communities.
This investment would supercharge the hugely successful Places to Ride programme – a £15m Government investment to cement the legacy of the 2019 UCI Yorkshire Road World Championships – delivering over 150 community cycling projects across England, saving the NHS £13.1m.
