THE BICYCLE HELMET INITIATIVE TRUST

The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust (BHIT) has been a Cooperating Helmet Initiative Program since 1997. "Our objective of The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust (BHIT) is clear - increase helmet wearing among children under-16 years old", says Nursing Sister and founder of BHIT, Angela Lee. "But the challenge is enormous since we are responsible for stimulating helmet promotion activities in all of the United Kingdom".

BHIT has been focusing on increasing helmet use in children who are socially challenged. Strategies include education and helmet giveaways. The educational materials have all been created in-house and include a video, posters, leaflets, puzzles, and vouchers for bicycle helmets. Posters and leaflets have been prepared in multiple languages. BHIT's technical expertise and materials are available to schools, youth groups, road safety organisations and parents for the asking.

Community Based Reinforcement
One of the newer strategies used by BHIT to increase helmet use and also bicycling is a Helmet Watch. Community police officers, road safety officers and health professionals distribute prizes and entries in a grand drawing to children who are seen on their bicycles wearing a helmet. Helmet Watch runs during the school summer holidays when cycling injury rates are at their highest.

According Lee, "To increase teenager awareness of the importance of helmet wearing, we ask teenagers to help design our program." This year the Trust commissioned a video made by teenagers for teenagers and has partnered with a mountain bike stunt team to distribute specially produced leaflets about helmet wearing during their demonstrations.

Helmet Wearing Legislation
BHIT has been stimulating passage of a helmet wearing law. This year, it supported the first attempt by a British MP to introduce a bill that would have made cycle helmets compulsory for all children under the age of 16. The bill had the support of other leading children's charities and health organizations, but it failed to become law due to time limitations and parliamentary procedural restraints. Even though it did not become law, politicians and the national media gave helmet wearing national attention.

Small Efficient Staff
BHIT has four part-time employees including its chief executive, Angela Lee. Miss Lee has been a paediatric nurse for more than 20 years and has been feverently promoting helmet use for the past dozen years.

Besides the part-time employees of the charity, BHIT relies on voluntary help. This help includes support from media, police officers, road safety officers, bike shops, health promotion units, hospitals, primary care trusts, companies, football teams and schools.

The Trust's patron is Formula One racing star David Coulthard. Coulthard is a keen cyclist and an advocate for wearing bicycle helmets. He is also a popular international role model, particularly with teenage boys. He is involved in fundraising for the charity and has helped raise the charity's media profile.

Support for the charity also comes from national health organisations and children's charities such as the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Headway, the Child Brain Injury Trust and Brake. Besides supporting the BHIT, these organisations recognize not only the importance of safe cycling, but also, the importance of cycling to promote health and protect the environment.

You can learn more about the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust on their website.

The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust
43-45 Milford Road, First Floor
Reading, Berkshire RG1 8LG, England
Tel: +44 (0) 118 958 3585
Fax: +44 (0) 118 956 8424
BHIT@dial.pipex.co.uk

The BHIT is a registered charity No. 1069476