Bikes for Ukraine
Our bikes help refugees get to work or school, shop, socialise and get fit. We serviced locally donated bikes, ensured they were roadworthy and give them to new grateful owners.
See some of the people we have helped in our bike gallery
Please Note: After almost two fantastic years, the bike project has now closed down (Mar24). Check out some of our achievements below.
Working with:
We have serviced 420 bikes and issued 295.
Each new owner also received a helmet, lock, lights and information on cycle safety.
An inspiring message received June23 from Roman, who was given a bike in Jan23:
“Hi David, I want to say you thanks for the bicycle one more time, its really great. Now i moved to Cheltenham, but my steel friend is with me. People often do not appreciate what they got for free, but this is the normal state of people and this is not your problem, but theirs, but you should understand better than them that it helps them. I just wanted to add some motivation, in your case, have a nice day Roma”
Volunteer Cytech Qualified Bike Mechanics: David Thrower, Martin Heal
Assisting volunteers: Gavin Gibson, James Manning, Ajmer Somal, David Hawkins
Gallery
Dave, Gavin and Joe with 10 bikes serviced.
Mechanic Joe ensuring the gears run smooth
Dave with a crop of serviced bikes ready to go
A big batch of bikes being collected today from Pattern Church
Becky from Swindon Cycling Club giving out a map of Swindon cycle routes
Dave on his Cytech 2 bike mechanics course
Dave with another batch going out from the Pattern Church
The parts of a B-Twin road bike stripped and cleaned. This bike went to Oleksi - see gallery
All bikes need a road test - Gavin in action
Gavin, replacing a chain
Dave setting the gears
Successfully donated, repaired and gifted bikes
This project has been partly made possible by grants from the Wiltshire Community Foundation, Swindon Borough Council, Localgiving and Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Huge thanks also to The Pattern Church for loaning us the workshop space. Without their hospitality this work would be soo much harder.
