Health - What's been happening in 2022?

Trail Therapy is an innovative intervention programme that seeks to use mountain biking in combination with more traditional therapy techniques to support those diagnosed with a mental health illness. From its tiny beginnings in 2018 we have now delivered Trail Therapy to over 80 people across Scotland, amounting to over 1,000 sessions. It's super exciting, we couldn't be more pleased however it has left us at a bit of a crux; with international interest, a tiny team and limited funding, where do we go next with Trail Therapy?

One of the challenges for us is that this new, somewhat unconventional approach is not as rigorously evaluated as many of the other (often pharmaceutical) interventions and treatments. Independent, academically rigorous evaluation is so important going forward, not just when it comes to referrals from the NHS but for those coming into this programme from third-sector organizstions and also those self-referring.

The good news is we now have the beginnings of an independent evaluation and masses of anecdotal evidence that says this can really work! Edinburgh Napier University’s Dr Holly Fountain has completed some preliminary research into the Trail Therapy programme and its all very exciting stuff and super positive. Holly presented some of her preliminary findings at the Scottish Mountain Bike Conference. This report will be finalised in January and if you want to catch up on just what Trail Therapy has done over the past 18 months just click on the link below for our most recent update.

So what next? It has to be about partnership working, the sharing of our learnings over the past 18 months and the generation of a formal Trail Therapy Programme that includes training, support and mentorship of partner individuals and organisations creating hubs across the UK and beyond.

And lastly, I can't end a Trail Therapy 2022 blog without saying a MASSIVE thanks to all those who have supported this programme, from people who have donated to the Scottish MTB Health Fund, to those who have given their time, energy and brain power. We thank you because we would not be here without you!

Our Rider2Leader events have continued for yet another year! These very special, 2-day events seek to build confidence in women mountain bikers so they can transition from mountain bike rider to mountain bike leader - helping to create more role models at all levels and inspire more women and girls into our sport.

This is so super important to us, there are so, so many amazing women out there hitting the trails, many aspiring to become mountain bike leaders but through lack of confidence, the transition from mountain bike rider to mountain bike leader can often be perceived as too daunting.

The courses are delivered by women for women, we get great feedback and they also produce results! Bearing in mind those folk who come on these courses choose them because they are really nervous about making that first step to formal training, we would be chuffed if just a handful of you went onto training and then assessment. But it's not just a handful - over 1/3 of all those who come along then feel confident enough to go and get qualified! What is really exciting is that a number of those qualified over the last few years have not stopped at Level 2 but have gone onto Level 3 too!

Rider2Leader is a joint initiative between DMBinS and Glenmore Lodge, we have been delivering these courses for a few years now and their success is evident and with more female leaders out there, we can get more women tutors and more girls into this amazing pastime!

Our Trail Therapy Programme is so clearly showing a link between mountain biking and mental wellbeing and resilience; our Rider2Leader programmes demonstrate that with bespoke encouragement and some great, relatable role models we can build confidence in women looking to take that first amazing step into mountain bike leadership. The Fundamentals of Mountain Bike Leadership, grassroots award is opening up the leadership doors for so many more people including those from within the disabled community (this was deliberate).

We have been working hard over the last year to encourage more folk into mountain biking and importantly into mountain bike tutoring. Folk from underrepresented communities who can become not only those very important relatable role models but who are knowledgeable and as passionate as we are about mountain biking. We have so much still to learn but partnership working is most definitely the way forward for us; thanks you so much to Craig Grimes from Experience Community, Neil Russell from Adaptive Riders Collective CIC and Aneela McKenna of Mòr Diversity. We so could not do this without you xx