Volunteer
We’re a charity, and volunteering at HHV helps us keep cycling accessible and enjoyable for all. We couldn’t do all that we do at Herne Hill Velodrome without volunteers.
Volunteering at HHV can look like everything from race marshalling, helping in the cafe, to getting qualified to coach cyclists of all ages and abilities. It could mean sparing an hour or two each week or month or just for a one off task or event: every bit of volunteering gives back to our community and supports the velodrome and its future.
Volunteering opportunities
Racing support & Commissaires
Volunteering at one of our many racing events is a brilliant way to be right in the thick of the action while helping riders push themselves to their limits. No experience needed.
Volunteering in our iconic Jan’s Café during race days at Herne Hill Velodrome is a front-row seat to the action with a refreshing twist. You’ll be right at the heart of the buzz: serving drinks to riders, spectators, and fellow volunteers, keeping everyone fuelled and smiling.
The Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome (FHHV) is our fundraising arm and an inclusive cycling club, based at HHV. They also lend a hand at our big annual events like the Fireworks, or South London Grand Prix.
For riders of all ages, getting a coaching qualification and helping us run our many community-based sessions is a rewarding way to give back to the community. We can pay for qualifications in exchange for coaching time.
Mechanics, commentating, being a Tandem pilot or even Gardening – we have a long list of other activities that would help us out. Or get in touch to discuss your own idea.
Racing support
Volunteering at one of our many racing events is a brilliant way to be right in the thick of the action while helping riders push themselves to their limits. There’s a real buzz on race day: the whirr of wheels, the cheer of the crowd, and the camaraderie among volunteers all make it feel special. Whether you’re ringing the bell for the final lap or capturing a photo finish, every role matters and adds to the excitement.
Join us as race support and:
Help keep races running smoothly by noting down finishing orders and inputting results
Be at the heart of the action as a lap board flipper & bell-ringer - crucial communication tools for the racers.
Support safety and flow as a gate/crossing marshal or general corner marshal (crits and cyclocross)
Try your hand at timing races and learning how events are run behind the scenes
Welcome riders at sign-on and be one of the first friendly faces they see
Play a part in the drama as a rider eliminator for some of our track races
Be part of a friendly, supportive community and make a real difference to every event
Commissaires
Our races couldn’t run without the support of qualified commissaires. It’s a commitment to the sport and commissaires are some of our favourite people. Find out more about commissairing here, and contact us to let us know about your interest. We can help facilitate the necessary volunteering opportunities to put you on the right track to getting your qualifications.
CAFE
Volunteering in our iconic Jan’s Café during race days at Herne Hill Velodrome is a front-row seat to the action with a refreshing twist. While the racing heats up outside, you’ll be right at the heart of the buzz—serving cold drinks to riders, spectators, and fellow volunteers, keeping everyone fuelled and smiling. It’s a lively, social role where you can chat with people, soak up the atmosphere, and still catch glimpses of the racing in between. If you’re keen to get hands-on, you can even learn to make great coffee—we’ll train you on the La Marzocco espresso machine, so you can step behind the bar and craft proper barista-quality drinks. It’s fun, fast-paced, and a great way to be part of the day while picking up a skill you can use anywhere.
friends of herne hill velodrome
The Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome (FHHV) is our fundraising arm and an inclusive cycling club, based at HHV.
Alongside being a welcoming club who also ride bikes outside of HHV, the FHHV get stuck in and help on our big annual events like the Fireworks, or South London Grand Prix. These are important fundraising opportunities for HHV and we couldn’t run them without our community lending support!
Membership offers various benefits, including discounts at local retailers, and access to the HHV track league. The FHHV raises funds for HHV through merchandise sales, as well as organising various events and hosts volunteering opportunities throughout the year.
Coaching support
For riders of all ages, getting a coaching qualification and helping us run our many community-based sessions is a rewarding way to give back to the community.
We pay for the qualification as long as you volunteer a number of coaching hours by shadowing our current coaches and learning more about what makes a great coach: the qualification is just a starting point, the real quality comes with practice!
You can learn to be a coach from the age of 14
Volunteer coaching can often lead to paid work, particularly if you’re available on evenings and weekends.
Volunteer coaches can provide extra assistance to sessions that would need more coaches than is financially viable, for example Para Cycling sessions, helping make cycling accessible to more people.
OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER
Tandem Pilot
Are you a confident rider who’d like to support visually impaired riders enjoy cycling? Email Thea about upcoming para sessions.
Commentator
Got the gift of the gab, and can you explain the wonders of track racing to an eager audience? Come along to one of our race events and try commentating! If you like it, you can join our enthusiastic bunch of volunteer commentators. There’s always a free drink in it, and often some chips too!
Gardening
We’ve got plenty of unruly hedges and grass verges, not to mention all our newly planted trees, that all need regular maintenance or watering year-round. If you feel the itch to spend more time in green spaces and you want to help us keep on top of all this plantlife, get in touch!
Mechanics
We run regular mechanics session to ensure our fleet of hire bikes are safe to ride. We really value basic mechanics skills to help us out servicing track and mountain bikes – at home mechanic skills can be enough. Get in touch with Jenni to discuss.