A member of Perth and Kinross Council staff has won a prestigious national award for his work to improve the cycling skills and road knowledge of local children.
Bikeability Co-ordinator Bill Butterworth has been named as the winner of Bikeability Scotland's Keith Fergus Annual Achievement Award for 2024. This award, now in its fifth year, recognises outstanding achievement in the delivery of Bikeability Scotland training.
Bikeability Scotland, run by Cycling Scotland, is a training programme designed to give children the skills and confidence they need to cycle safely on the roads. The programme is delivered by local authorities and schools across Scotland, with the aim of encouraging more children to cycle to school and for leisure.
Cycling Scotland highlighted Bill's exceptional commitment to the Bikeability Scotland programme, and said his proactive, resourceful, and flexible approach in planning and delivering training across the authority has been instrumental in ensuring that thousands of children participated in cycle training, developing essential life skills in the process.
Judges were unanimous in their decision, praising Bill for ensuring Perth and Kinross delivered a record amount of training to children in the last year. In 2023-24, Perth and Kinross became the largest authority to date to have successfully engaged all of their primary schools in Bikeability Scotland training.
The award, which is named in honour of Keith Fergus, an advocate for school cycle training in Scotland, was presented to Bill at an awards ceremony in Stirling on 5th September.
Bill said: "This award was completely unexpected, but I am delighted that our progress in delivering Bikeability training in all our local schools has been recognised. It's very important that we encourage children to get in the saddle and give them the skills and safety knowledge that they need, so they can enjoy a lifetime of cycling."
Councillor John Rebbeck, Perth and Kinross Council's Convener for Learning and Families added: "This award is very well deserved for Bill. His commitment and enthusiasm has seen Perth and Kinross achieve our highest ever level of Bikeability training in our schools. Bikeability is a hugely valuable programme which encourages our young people to use sustainable transport, keep fit and be safe out on our roads.
"It has been a huge effort by Bill and the team to engage with schools and take delivery from a low level five years ago to where we are now, with the support of the team at Cycle Scotland. Huge congratulations go to Bill and everyone involved in our Bikeability programme."
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