3 brave cyclists take on RideLondon

We can’t say enough about our amazing supporters, and the incredible challenges they take on to raise awareness and funds for our work. This month, on 29 May, we have 3 brave cyclists – Richard Tallett, and brothers Tom and Charlie Whitcombe – taking on 100 miles (no, we didn’t write that incorrectly – 100 mammoth miles!) as part of RideLondon.

We caught up with them to hear how their training is going and what inspired them to raise the roof with Team AzuKo.

Why have you chosen to support AzuKo?

(Richard) AzuKo’s mission and ethos really struck a chord with me – it’s such a novel concept – plus I hope that by taking part I can also do my bit to help raise the profile of a smaller charity.

(Tom) One of my oldest friends Beth introduced me to AzuKo. It’s a fantastic charity doing incredible work around the world.

“I’m really interested in the unique nature of AzuKo’s work. Using expertise and experience to turnaround a family’s prospects and quality of life for the long term. I’m excited to represent them on the day and spread the word about what AzuKo stands for.”

— Charlie

What motivated you to take part in RideLondon?

“This will be the first time I’ve ever taken part in anything like this, so the motivation was a combination of things: a great opportunity to raise some money for charity, the sense of personal achievement in completing a challenge such as this and the persuasive powers of a WhatsApp group.”

— Richard

(Tom) I’m turning 40 this year and needed a serious challenge!

(Charlie) It’s been on my bucket list of physical challenges ever since I moved to London. I don’t know that area of London very well, but what better way to experience it than on a bike in the spring sunshine. All whilst raising money for a very worthy cause. The team aspect will also no doubt help us around the course and add to the memories.

Which part of the route are you most excited for?

(Richard) The last few miles coming back into central London. I live quite close to the route so know it well and will be looking forward to that home stretch feeling kicking in.

(Tom) Setting off at the beginning and winding our way out of London, towards the Essex countryside.

(Charlie) Epping forest as I don’t think I’ve ever been there… Also, the finish line must be a welcome sight!

What does your training schedule look like? And how is it going so far?

(Richard) I go out for a ride most weekends and have been steadily increasing the distance. Along with a good mate, we’ve been working our way around the South East coast – we’ve now done all the way from Southend to Poole (in stages of course!)

(Tom) I do a once a week 44-mile journey into work, from Surrey to London and back. I also run 2-3 times a week on the treadmill in my garage (and take the stairs at work whenever possible).

(Charlie) For the next few weeks I’m going to be splitting my time between the Scottish countryside and London. I’m aiming to get some long rides under my belt and beef up the thighs as much as possible for the big day.

What is your secret weapon to help get you round those 100 miles?

(Richard) Flapjack mini bites and jelly babies.

(Tom) DJ Tiesto and those disgusting (but essential) gel packs.

(Charlie) A hearty breakfast! Either porridge oats or a fry-up with some good coffee… I haven’t decided yet.

How long have you been cycling, and what do you enjoy about it?

(Richard) I’ve been cycling all my life, but like many others rediscovered road cycling during lockdown in 2020. I love the escapism you get on longer rides, exploring the countryside and the sense of achievement from grinding out the climbs to be rewarded with the downhills.

“My first memory of cycling is aged 5 racing my father and 2-year-old sister in her pram down a lane on holiday in Wales… for some reason I ended up flying over the handlebars and damaged my front tooth, requiring a visit to a Welsh dentist! Fingers crossed no accidents at RideLondon 😊”

— Tom

(Charlie) For as long as I can remember. I enjoy the simplicity of it, comfortably covering long distances under your own steam all whilst exploring and taking in the countryside.

How will you celebrate once you have crossed the finish line?

(Richard) I’ll be thirsty for a cold beer or two with my fellow AzuKo riders Tom and Charlie.

(Tom) A cold pint of Guinness and a bacon cheeseburger.

(Charlie) Obligatory bikes-held-over-the-heads team photo? Followed by a round of cold beers.

Inspiring. We’ll be cheering them all the way. Join us:

• Donate what you can to help them push past that wall: Richard / Tom / Charlie

• Download The Official RideLondon App for free, and follow their journeys on race day

• If you’re in London, pick a cheer point and wave!

Ponchomi's story - building for safety

Ponchomi previously lived in a mud house. It was a one-room dwelling with thick walls made of a simple mixture of earth and water. Monsoon rains and floods eroded her home, so she had to constantly repair it. She often checked for snakes which like to burrow in the warm earth – a neighbour had died from such a bite. Her outbuilding was barely standing; the bamboo having rotted from rising damp and termite attack.

She dreamed of a house where she could feel safe with her children, a building that would withstand the elements. As a day labourer, her husband didn’t earn enough money to buy the bricks they needed, so they were about to borrow money from a loan shark.

Ponchomi heard about our ‘build for safety’ workshops, which offered an alternative and joined the training. We returned to see what difference it has made. Her family now live in a secure bamboo-frame house. The posts are raised above the damp earth on kaatla (pad foundations), the material is treated to resist termites, cross bracing reinforces the structure and stops it from twisting during storms and seismic activity, the corrugated iron sheet roof is securely tied back into the structure and steel bolts strengthen the primary building joints.

“My house is much stronger now. It will last longer. These are small improvements but they make a big difference.”

— Ponchomi

She invited us in for tea and proudly showed us all the improvements they’ve made. They only borrowed a small sum, and they’ve already paid it back. She’s now dreaming of an extension; a second room for when her children grow up. She feels confident she’ll again be able to use the techniques she learned.

Ponchomi is happy to share her skills. She’s now an advocate in her village for what can be achieved with bamboo, which is often seen as a ‘poor man’s’ material.

Help us train more women to build for safety in Bangladesh. Donate to our training programme.

Visit our project page for more information.

Author: J. Ashbridge

Design is meeting needs

We attended a ‘design quality’ conference for the built environment. One workshop, ‘Winning the hearts and minds’ was summarised as, ‘Engaging the community to obtain a YIMBY instead of a NIMBY (not in my back yard),’ or ‘How to assure you get your design through planning without local opposition’.

This suggests quality design is not a result of quality engagement, but rather, engagement is simply a tool to gain people’s favour (and that we already know what quality design is, so why would we need to learn from those who live and work there?)

What our project with Emmaus St Albans shows is that quality engagement right from the outset is vital for design that does what it’s supposed to do - meet users needs, hopes and dreams.

We began working with homelessness charity Emmaus UK in collaboration with Ryder and CRASH. We led a participatory design process to define the ‘big idea’ for expansion of their building in St Albans. This building is responsible for housing, training and employing 33 formerly homeless people.

Emmaus UK supports over 700 homeless men and women every year, known as companions. The social enterprise arm of Emmaus UK - their shops - recycles or reuses 3,302 tonnes of items. The shops are central to the charity’s success. They provide opportunities for companions to rehabilitate, learn and grow, while supporting the financial sustainability of the charity.

We gained insight into the experience and needs of those using the building - the companions, staff, leadership and trustees through co-design workshops, interviews, focus groups, participatory photography, and most importantly conversations over cups of tea.

A consensus was reached to expand the storage and shop floor space, something that came as a surprise to the Chief Executive, who believed the companions would have chosen to expand the leisure space.

Since the completion of the building, “profitability went up 23%”. The CEO, Tony Ferrier, believes the expanded space and storage has allowed staff to better look after and store items, creating an improved experience for them and for customers.

The St Albans location has added resiliency to the greater Emmaus Hertfordshire branches. One staff member shares,

“It’s taken a bit of pressure off. We have another shop that isn’t doing quite as well. It still means that we’re keeping steady. [It’s] a safety net.”

Our early conversations with companions revealed that there was a fundamental issue with loading furniture and other goods into the shop. There were between 7 and 10 tonnes of furniture going through the front door each year, which caused “havoc” one companion described.

“It’s made a vast improvement on the shop. I could remember one time we were having to lug an item, trying to stack it in there and trying to lift [sofas, king sized beds and stuff like that] past customers without hitting them... trying to get it through that front door, which is not exactly the biggest.”

Friction with customers before the extension led to arguments. This friction was aggravated by the physical and psychological state the companions may be in at any particular time. One companion shared, “a lot of people that come in here they suffer from anxiety, depression… not able to talk to people. When I first moved in here, I had really bad anxiety”.

The new space has gone a long way to address the range of needs for the range of users. As a result of the building “you’re not banging around so much, you’re not trying to dodge customers” and “we don’t have customers diving on us before the furniture’s even been put up”.

Since construction, companions and staff have noticed a range of positive outcomes. Aside from, “it has made life a lot easier” the expanded space has ultimately resulted in:

• Increased safety in the management of stock coming into and out of the shop - greater ease of working

• More opportunities for companions to work and grow

• Fewer mistakes, particularly around merchandising - greater confidence working on the shop floor

• Reduced friction between companions and customers

• A greater sense of place and belonging in the building

• More professional layout of goods

These outcomes are a direct result of brilliant collaboration between companions, staff and customers. The shop has improved financial sustainability for the charity, the shopping experience for customers, and physical and psychological security for companions.

To learn more visit the project page.

Author: N. Ardaiz