A youth mountain biking charity which aims to build confidence in young people and deepen their connection with the environment has received a boost for female riders in a recent fundraiser.

WORD NZ offers biking programmes for youth from seven to 17 years old in Wanaka. 

“We’re all about grassroots mountain biking and getting more young people involved,” WORD NZ Wānaka’s programme manager Pete Mitchell told the Wānaka App. 

The charity, which also operates in Wellington and Christchurch, has been running in Wānaka for about two and a half years.

As well as holiday programmes, WORD NZ runs after-school programmes during the first and last term of the year.

More than $1,000 was raised for WORD NZ through Bike Glendhu and Mons Royale limited edition ‘Women’s Ride Wednesday’ t-shirt fundraiser.

Pete said during the after-school programmes, which run for seven weeks, the students get to ride in different locations each week - from Lismore Park to Dean’s Bank, Bike Glendhu and more - improving their skills and confidence on and off their bikes.

“The kids also learn other skills through the programmes,” he said. "We use mountain bikes as the vehicle for young people to connect with others, with themselves and to their environment.”

The programmes usually attract around 60 young riders and WORD NZ is keen to increase female participation, something a recent fundraiser by Bike Glendhu and Mons Royale will support.

Bike Glendhu and Mons Royale teamed up to create a limited edition ‘Women’s Ride Wednesday’ merino t-shirt with $20 from each t-shirt earmarked for WORD NZ.

Fifty-six t-shirts were sold, meaning WORD NZ will receive $1,120 to help get more girls riding bikes in WORD NZ’s female-led, girls-only programmes.

“We are stoked to be the charity of choice for the Women's Ride Wednesday t-shirts,” WORD NZ founder Ashley Peters said. 

“Although a lot has been done to help bridge the gender gap in mountain biking, we still have work to do to reach equality in participation.”

The parent of a young girl who participated in a WORD NZ programme in Wānaka said their daughter had a great time, and learning from female instructors was a bonus.

“It's so cool for our little girl to see the 'big girls' leading the charge and doing cool stuff."

Simone, a young rider in the 10-12 year old group, said the programme helped her get confident on her mountain bike and meet new people.

Learn more about WORD NZ and upcoming programmes here.

PHOTOS: WORD NZ