A scheme has been launched to help young people gain work experience by the Tour de France.
The Readiness to Work programme, launched by Grand Départ GB and delivered by British Cycling, will give 18 to 25-year-olds the chance to volunteer at the major event while building key skills for future employment.
Cumberland is set to take centre stage when the Grand Départ arrives in 2027, with Carlisle hosting the finish of Stage One on Friday July 2 and Keswick hosting the start of Stage Two on Saturday July 3.
The route will then travel through the Lake District.
As part of the programme, 300 young volunteers who apply to become JOY Maker volunteers will receive support including CV and interview training, as well as sessions on resilience, financial awareness and personal development.
They will also take part in three months of mentoring with professionals from sectors such as event management, sport, and marketing.
The programme combines this training with hands-on experience of a major international event, helping young people build confidence and develop skills they can use in future jobs.
Cumberland Council said it was working with partners to make sure local people benefit from opportunities linked to the Tour de France, and is encouraging young people to sign up and get involved.
Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer, said: “Bringing the Tour de France to Cumberland is about more than hosting a major sporting event. It’s about creating opportunities for our communities.
“This programme is a positive step in helping people gain practical experience, build confidence and develop skills that employers are looking for. By combining training with real involvement in a global event, it gives participants something tangible to take forward as they move into work.
“We also want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved, whether that’s through volunteering or taking part in programmes like this, and to be part of welcoming the world to Cumberland in 2027.”
Jon Dutton OBE, chief executive of British Cycling, said; “We know there are more than one million 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training, and for many of those, 84%, want to change that. We want to address some of the employability challenges.
“This offers an opportunity for young people to come and enjoy a mega sporting event, but also to build confidence, resilience and to get skills that will benefit getting them into employment.”
The programme is a part of British Cycling’s JOY social impact programme for Grand Départ GB, that will create positive social change both on and on the bike.
To find out more about the Readiness to Work programme, visit the website at letourgb.com/readiness-to-work.
Anyone aged 16-plus can sign up now to be a JOY Maker volunteer at letourgb.com/volunteer
