18-year-old volunteer 'feels incredible' after British Cycling Awards win

By Alex Reed

Caitlyn Beardsmore said it ‘feels absolutely incredible’ after winning the Young Volunteer of the Year award at the 2025 British Cycling Awards, presented by Lloyds.

The Young Volunteer of the Year Award of the Year is given to the 16 to 25-year-old making a big difference through cycling volunteering.

Nottingham’s Beardsmore, 18, has coached for nearly eight years and supports a number of different programmes in her local area, helping cycling grow.

She said: ”It feels absolutely incredible. It feels great to be able to be recognised for the amount of work I've put in over the years.

“I started [coaching] very young and I've given a lot back to the community, to kids, adults, women who never got taught how to ride a bike, and it's very rewarding to be able to give back to people.”

The 18-year-old helps Nottingham Clarion, Beeston Road Club, Abbey Road Primary School, Government-run Holiday, Activities and Food programme and Pedal Parties and delivers women’s “Learn to Ride” sessions, making cycling more accessible to everyone.

All of this on top of studying at Nottingham Trent University is an enormous task, of which she can be hugely proud, and Beardsmore has even helped raise money for local programmes.

She said: “My proudest moment of the year was probably the 24-hour charity ride we did with Abbey Road Primary School.

“We raised about just under £3,000 for the school for more sports equipment. So half of it went to the school and the other half went to Young Minds, a kids' mental health charity."

Beardsmore accepted the award at a glitzy 2025 British Cycling Awards ceremony in Manchester, alongside a number of big names.

The event was a celebration of people at all levels of the sport, from the elite performance athletes to volunteers like Beardsmore.

“It definitely inspires me a lot,” she said. “To see that we get recognition for the things we do is incredible.

“It's something that is really important and it helps encourage people to step up a bit more as well. I'm quite excited to get around talking to the other people here afterwards.”

Among the attendees in Manchester were Olympians and Paralympians like Beth Shriever, Anna Morris and Jody Cundy, who all won awards.

Shriever took home the National Champion of the Year Award sponsored by Lloyds, as Morris clinched the Olympic Athlete of the Year and Cundy the Paralympic Athlete victories.

Could you develop your skills, meet new people and bring huge impact to your local community through volunteering? Get involved with British Cycling volunteering opportunities at https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/volunteering