Langston.
You may want to go to your local shop and ask if they need any help. Tell them that you don't have any experience, but you are willing to wash bikes, sweep floors, clean toilets or whatever it takes to learn.
Not sure how the shop situation is in your area of the UK, but if there is a shop nearby that is involved with racing or sponsers a team, find out who is in charge of the racing program and stick to that person like glue.
Time is on your side and you may have to sweep a lot of floors or clean a lot of toilets before you get to actually work on a bike, but if you stick with it you will get what you are looking for.
Getting an old beater bike is a good idea also. My first bike was an old CZ. Didn't run when I bought it. Didn't run when I sold it and never ran in between. But, I learned a lot by taking it apart and puting it back together many times.
It's all up to you and how bad you want it. ;)
Good luck.