Bike scheme provides wheels for Ukrainian refugees
published on 22 Jun 2022
Recycles, a social enterprise scheme run by The Salvation Army at Booth House in Swindon, is providing bikes for Ukrainian refugees.
At Recycles, residents of the life house (a hostel for homeless people), repair and refurbish old, donated bikes to help get Swindon cyclists back on the road. The scheme offers training and work experience opportunities at the Salvation Army Life House Centre for the homeless.
The ‘Bikes for Ukraine’ scheme was set up to answer the new arrivals requests for transport to reach local services in a cheap and accessible way with Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, a committee who work in partnership with Swindon Council and Pattern Church, created to help the people of Ukraine to settle in. It helps residents planning to host Ukrainian families with visa processes and supporting the refugees once they have arrived.
Last week representatives from the scheme were delighted to be able to hand over bikes to Ukrainian refugees, including wheels for children and families.
Simon Styles, Workshop Supervisor of Recycles, said: “It was fantastic to be able to provide bikes for the refugees. Our team got really involved in supporting the refugees by choosing all of the bikes to be given to them, and also helping to repair and re-build the bikes.
“It was a privilege to be able to play a part in supporting people from Ukraine to re-build their lives in Swindon.”
The bikes were donated by the public and dropped into Recycles, where a team of volunteers from Booth House clean, service and repair the bikes and ensure they are safe.
Simon said: “I absolutely love working with the homeless people of Booth House. Giving them an opportunity to get back in to work, I enjoy helping them to progress and develop their experience and skills working in a shop environment, as well as some becoming bike mechanics.”
Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, a committee created to help the people of Ukraine, helps Swindon residents planning to host Ukrainian families with the visa processes and supporting the community of refugees once they have arrived in Swindon.
