We remove bicycles from the waste stream and refurbish them using the process as a means of training. We target NEETS and probationers and people who are in need of assistance with retraining.
Why the community needs usThe Bike Rescue Project aims to take thousands of unwanted bicycles each year and whilst saving their embedded energy, uses the salvage and refurbishment process as a vehicle to train and empower members of the local community, giving confidence and life skills as well as industry-recognised qualifications. It generates a local manufacturing base that offers long-term employment and long-term volunteering opportunities.
Our impact on the communityAnnually we recycle twelve tons of waste from the waste stream and refurbish 60% of it; most refurb bikes were sold to keep the project going, and some donated. We trained two apprentices in 2012 and took on two more in 2013. We worked with two community groups (a mental health organisation and a children's after school club) to offer them free training sessions and support them in setting up their own workshops, running eight 4-hour sessions of mechanical instruction.
Skilled administrators would be very useful.
