A charity is appealing for donations of a different kind after launching a new project to help teach people with learning disabilities to repair and maintain bicycles.
Staff at Brandon Trust, which is running the project, based at Elm Tree Farm in Bristol, are desperate for any unwanted bicycles, bike parts and also volunteers with knowledge of bikes to spare a few hours for one day a week to help make it a success.
A National Lottery grant has funded tools, equipment and a two-month maintenance training course at Bristol Bike Project in Stokes Croft for four people supported by Brandon Trust, which started earlier in the month.
The aim is for the team to offer the public a cycle repair service and to sell repaired and recycled bikes from a workshop on the farm once-a-week.
Steve Price, employment officer at Brandon Trust, said: “It will provide a lot of different opportunities for the people we support and a chance to gain confidence and skills for possible future employment.”
On the first training day, the four Brandon Trust students – Andrew Denning, Matt Styles, Richard Wyatt and Luke Crocker – got to grips learning the basics of bike repair with help from staff at Bristol Bike Project.
“I am a keen cyclist and never thought I would enjoy this so much. I want to learn how to repair my own bike,” said Crocker.
Paul Whitehead, project leader, said: “The idea has grown from one person we support wanting to learn how to maintain and repair bikes and we hope it will take off. Any support would be really appreciated. We can collect any donated items.”
To help or donate items, contact Paul Whitehead on 0117 9659782.
