Introducing our 2026 Charity Visitors
Why we have charity visitors
The William Wates Memorial Trust supports many charities which engage with young people through sport and so in 2014, with the financial support of an alumnus, we started an initiative to invite 2 young people each year (from the charities supported by WWMT) to join us on tour for a stage.
They can choose to cycle (a few kilometres or sometimes more) or choose to spend their time with our staff team. Accompanied by one of their key workers they’ll both talk after dinner about their experiences, their charity and just how the WWMT grant has helped them.
We’re really excited about our visitors this year. We know our riders will give them a warm welcome on tour and all the encouragement they need. We also know that every rider will be humbled by their stories and their tenacity. Read on to find out more …
Meet our 2 youngsters:
Connor - XO Bikes/Onwards and Upwards
We’re really delighted to be joined by key worker Will (who many of you met at our London Rider Night) and young person Connor from Onwards and Upwards’ XO Bikes project.
A little over 2 years ago, Connor was convicted for ‘possession of a bladed article in a public place’ and was given a 2-year suspended sentence. During that time, Connor reflected on his actions, his past and what he hoped for from his future. While looking for help through a housing charity, he was lucky enough to meet the team at Onwards and Upwards, who introduced him to the XO Bikes project – an opportunity he grabbed. He admits he wasn’t totally sure at first that this could help him, but there he met people who were willing to help ex-offenders (something he couldn’t imagine happening), who believed in him and wanted him to have a better future. Importantly, crucially, they offered a safe space: something Connor describes as ‘a beautiful thing – there aren’t many safe spaces in Lewisham for people like me – there weren’t safe spaces growing up’.
Connor completed the bike mechanics course last year and was awarded the silver grade, having “thoroughly enjoyed” the course. The support didn’t end there, and through Onwards and Upwards he was then given the opportunity to train in painting and decorating – a course he’s still taking part in.
Mentor Will plans to ride as much of stage 4 as possible while Connor will be working along the route alongside our team (so you’ll see him at feed stops) and then you’ll find him at the hotel in the evening with the bike mechanic team. This will be his first trip outside the UK, so he’s really excited about it!
For those of you riding Stage 4 (Grand Loop, First Half, Barcelona + Pyrenees and Pyrenees Loops), you’ll have the chance to listen to and chat with Will and Connor on tour. We hope that you’ll also feel an immense sense of pride that your cycling efforts are helping to fund this kind of work that makes a real and tangible difference to young lives.
Jayden - Free to be Kids
Young people are referred to Free to be Kids when they have faced real challenges in their childhoods and need additional support to help get their lives on track.
Jayden is now 16 and is a shining example of the difference this level of continued support over several years can make to a young person who’s not had the easiest start in life. He’s an enthusiastic, engaged, energetic and thoroughly likeable young guy and he’s super excited about joining us on tour to ride as much of stage 17 as possible, along with his brilliant mentor Dan.
Jayden first joined the Free to be Kids residential projects (designed for children aged 8-13) for several years before progressing to their journey project which is aimed at older kids. He made the most of every opportunity they offered him, and he’s since been paired with his mentor Dan, becoming one of the young leaders on Free to be Kids’ residentials, supporting other children who have faced similar challenges to him. This is the sort of journey that the charity hopes they can deliver to as many children on their projects as possible – benefiting them as a young child and then progressing to being a leader supporting others.
Loopers riding the Grand Loop, 2nd Half, Mountains Week and Alps Loops will have the privilege of supporting Dan and Jayden as they give the stage their very best effort! This will be Jayden’s 2nd trip outside the UK but his first to France. We can’t wait for him to see the Alps for the first time!
The benefits of our Charity Visitors are twofold
- A young person gets the opportunity of a lifetime, to challenge themselves and talk to the riders who are supporting them.
- Our riders get to meet one of the young people their efforts are supporting and ask them, face to face, about their life and the work of their charity. They also have a unique opportunity to support them in their ride during the day, sharing the camaraderie of the peloton.
“My Le Loop trip was a huge success and I felt a boost of confidence from the trip. Everyone I met was warm, friendly and supportive. I’ve definitely made everlasting memories and experiences from this trip. I was proud of myself for giving road cycling a go, especially without clip on shoes and for me to ride 118km in that heat, and the hilly course. The views were stunning. Now onto my Gold DofE expedition in Brecon next week!”
“… the talk and meeting Daley from Star Scheme…was moving, memorable and made a huge impact on me. To hear from a project that the WWMT supports put everything in perspective. It made the charity and fundraising feel personal. Well done for incorporating such an important aspect to the tour and I hope they get to know what an impact they made”.