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Recyke y'bike

Words by Smiley Team

Recyke y’bike are a charity based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne who work to save bikes from being sent to landfill.

Instead volunteers recycle, repair and fix up unwanted cycles to redistribute to community groups in their local area who need them.

In the last 12 months alone they have saved more than 1500 bikes from being dumped, and in turn have helped local children learn how to ride, given young offenders a new start by helping them learn cycle maintenance skills and donated bikes to asylum seekers and refugees who could not otherwise afford transport.

Sara Newson is the general manager at Recyke y’Bike. She said: “I’m incredibly proud to be able to contribute to an organisation that tackles multiple issues, including throw away culture, over use of landfill and access to affordable, sustainable and healthy transport.

“We also provide access to practical training and learning opportunities that bring people together and provide employment opportunities with just one core activity - recycling bikes.”

The charity started in 2006 with the aim of recycling bikes and donating them to asylum seekers and refugees in the community. Since then Recyke y’bike have grown to include 13 members of staff and 50 volunteers, and now provide bikes and cycle training to dozens of community groups in and around Newcastle.

They also work with young offenders in Deerbolt Prison in Co Durham, teaching them cycle repair and maintenance skills and helping to grow and improve the prison’s bike workshop.

Del Fiddes, industry manager at Deerbolt said: “The continual supply of bikes from Recyke ensures that we can engage young men in purposeful activity, increasing the employability options of an individual when released.

“The partnership between Deerbolt and Recyke y’bike is having a direct impact on the rehabilitation provision which we provide, with the aspiration of changing people’s lives by reducing the harm that crime causes and consequently reducing the number of victims within our society.”

But in order to continue their success Recyke y’bike need three things - donations of old bikes, volunteers and financial donations.

Sara said: “We really want to invest in training of our volunteers and staff so that they can develop their education and training provision, working more closely with the local community to give even more people the skills to maintain and fix their bikes.”

If you think you can help visit their website at http://recyke-y-bike.org/ for more information or find them on social:

Twitter @RYBike

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/recyke.bike/

Instagram @recykeybike

 

By Jenna Sloan

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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