Phoenix Motorcycle Training, in association with Mental Health Motorbike, is training 24 members of its staff as accredited Mental Health First Aiders.

The company will have a Mental Health First Aider at every one of its 22 training sites, to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff, create a supportive environment, and provide dedicated spaces where people can go to talk in confidence with someone who understands their needs.

With one in four adults in England experiencing mental illness each year, and 75% of those diagnosed receiving no support or treatment, the scale of the problem is massive.

The newly qualified Mental Health First Aiders at Phoenix Motorcycle Training have the tools and knowledge to be able to provide support following their in-depth training, making the training centres friendly and supportive environments for everyone.

The combined effort from Phoenix Motorcycle Training and Mental Health Motorbike is looking to ensure that the future of motorcycling is happier and healthier than before, without losing any of the inherent fun and enjoyment that riding motorcycles brings.

Mark Jaffe, boss of Phoenix Motorcycle Training, said: “As the UK’s largest motorcycle training school, we can see the massive benefit to new and current riders of having access to Mental Health First Aiders in all of our locations. As instructors and bikers, we know that riding motorcycles helps promote good mental health, and through this additional training enabling us to do even more, and the brilliant work of Mental Health Motorbike, we realise we can make a difference to riders old and new.”

Paul Oxborough, Founding Member and Chair of Trustees at Mental Health Motorbike added: “Phoenix Motorcycle Training is not only respected within the industry, they really get what it means to go the extra mile when training their new riders. They have invested in putting a trained Mental Health First Aider in every one of their centres in case any of their trainees are struggling. These partnerships with the industry really send out a strong signal that it is OK to talk about your mental health and we truly respect and value this strong connection – Phoenix, we thank you for helping break the stigma around mental health.”