The teenager at the pedals knows his stuff, having learned his craft from someone who knows exactly what he’s going through.

“Mountain biking was my pathway,” instructor David Leslie said.

“It’s a healthy world and it’s been really rewarding.”

David has spent the past six years working with children and young people in care through the Department for Child Protection’s Youth Adventure and Recreational Services (YARS) program.

He’s been trained in trauma-informed practice to support young people to develop new skills and establish positive and trusting relationships.

David has been working with 14-year-old Charlie for the past eighteen months and has noticed a big improvement in his motivation and self-esteem.

“He’s set himself quite a few goals in mountain biking,” David said.

“Mostly jumps and obstacles, which he has achieved.

“Then he wanted to race.”

Charlie this year has competed in four races in The Club Cup, through the Inside Line Downhill Mountain Bike Club, and plans two more series next year, including the State Series.

His success prompted DCP to fund his bike and riding gear so that he could compete.

“It’s his number-one hobby on the weekends,” David said.

“He now has a whole social network built around bikes. It’s a healthy group of young people, rather than being stuck with the wrong crowd.

“It’s been really good for him.”

Charlie now wants to train and work as a bike mechanic, and looks forward to making the most of his opportunity in life after care.

“We’ve talked about things like getting a ute and chucking his bike in the back to travel around Australia to ride the best tracks,” David said.

“I think he’s matured a lot and I’ve been told his behaviour has improved.”

David said Charlie joined YARS after watching his older house mate also grow in confidence through the program as a mountain bike rider himself.

He’s now about to leave care.

“Those two boys have really benefited from the mountain bike program,” David said.

“It’s probably been my proudest achievement at DCP, coaching those two boys.”

For further information email TherapeuticRCT@sa.gov.au. Attention: Youth Adventure and Recreation Services.