Council team is geared up to supply more bikes
A successful North Ayrshire Council project is continuing to make life easier for residents by supplying them with free bicycles.
Last summer, the Employability Service launched an upcycling initiative where unwanted bikes are donated, repaired, cleaned, and provided free of charge to community members who are not able to purchase their own.
The Equal programme is a supported employment service that assists people with long-term health conditions and disabilities to get into work and training.
It comes under the banner of the council’s Employability Service’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme, which offers a wide range of tailored support to get people back into work, start work for the first time or take a step up the career ladder.
In December, almost 30 bikes for people of different ages and abilities were delivered ahead of Christmas and there is still time to either get your own bike or donate one to the project.
Quote: This is a very worthwhile project that is helping to make a real difference to individuals and families. Some people might need a bike to travel to and from work or college, while others might benefit from cycling to get out and about and improve their general health and fitness. Congratulations to the Equal team for coming up with the idea for a bicycle upcycling scheme, and good luck to everyone who has received a bike so far. I would also like to thank everyone who has already donated a bike.
Quote from: Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy
The programme also supports trainees to attain Velotech Cycle Maintenance Qualifications and SQA accreditation for Customer Service and Responsibilities of Employment.
If you have a bike in relatively decent condition to donate that is lying unused in a shed or taking up valuable space in your garage, the team would also like to hear from you. Please do not donate bikes that are not suitable for upcycling.
You can donate an unwanted bike, or if your child has outgrown theirs, you can swap it for a bigger one and someone else will be gifted their original bicycle.
If you donate a bicycle, the trainee bike mechanics will check the gears, brakes and other bike parts for wear and tear – and give it a service.
The project is helping to stop unused bikes going to landfill and is also giving families and individuals a chance to get one for free that they otherwise could not afford.
Ahead of Christmas, bikes were also donated to schools including Loudoun-Montgomery Primary in Irvine and St Luke’s Primary School, Kilwinning.
Paul Bleakley, Headteacher at Loudoun-Montgomery, said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive two bikes, which we raffled to raise money for school funds. I would encourage other schools, residents and organisations to contact Equal – the bikes have been serviced and are in good condition.”
Three bicycles were handed over to St Luke’s to allow pupils who don’t have their own bike to take part in road cycling training. Headteacher Fiona McGowne said: “Getting these bikes from Equal has been a great help as they will allow us to involve more children in our cycling activities. I would like to thank the team for their support.”
Please note: To find out how you can donate a bike, or receive one, please email or phone the Equal team.
The team will, subject to availability, do their best to accommodate you. If you are making a donation, the team can arrange delivery or collection – but please only offer bicycles that are worth restoring.
Our Employability Service delivers a range of support through its Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.
Contracted partners delivering Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire include We Work for Families and CEIS Ayrshire, who all contribute to delivering a wide range of support to help individuals prepare and progress into employment.
Please note: To access any of the opportunities delivered by Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire please email the team. You can also find out how Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire can help you with things like CVs, application forms, Modern Apprenticeships, paid work experience, interview techniques and secure employment at Help finding work (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)
Follow the team on Facebook at Working North Ayrshire.
Published: 27 January 2025