To fund the continuation of Cycle Community CIC ‘Recycle’ Project: Inspiring real change for the planet and people
ReCycle is an award-winning bicycle recycling and education programme based at Goldwyn School in Ashford, Kent. Students work with professional bicycle mechanics and learn how to fix and refurbish bicycles in a positive and supportive environment - benefitting from one-to-one mentoring. We have a high success rate in helping them improve their school attendance, behaviour and self-esteem. To date, over 50 young people have got involved and the project continues to get excellent feedback from both students and staff. The project - run by local not-for-profit company Cycle Community CIC - has also generated over 2,200 affordable refurbished bicycles for reuse in the Ashford community.
How is ReCycle helping more young people at Goldwyn School?
Zach, 16: "I was excluded after getting in trouble at school. I joined the team in the workshop at Goldwyn School and found something I was good at. My mentor said that I excelled and became a very competent mechanic. I now have a Saturday job in a local bike shop and I'm looking forward to doing an engineering apprenticeship soon".
Jake, 17: "After a difficult childhood, I felt lost. I was just drifting from day-to-day with no direction. Then I volunteered at ReCycle. I learnt new skills and my confidence quickly grew. I built a bike for my own use, which gave me independence, improved my fitness and well-being and even helped me get work as a food courier on my refurbished bike".
John, a student from Goldwyn School,12, said: “I was struggling. I was running away from home and not attending classes. After volunteering on the ReCycle project, I turned my life around and completely changed my attitude. I started refurbishing bikes and I loved working with my mentor and in the workshop. Now, I’m rebuilding a bike that I can take home afterwards. I’m back at school, I’m so much more confident and I’m keen to learn more about bike maintenance.”
Ever growing need
Cycle Community wants to continue to deliver more sessions at Goldwyn School with the young people, supporting their learning and skill development whilst taking bikes out of landfill and offering them back into the community as safe and restored bikes through Bike Sale Days. We need your help to do this! This is what your 'coffee' donations will help us do:
Help us buy bicycle parts to create the Affordable Refurbished Bicycles - 1+ coffee(s)
Fix a bike in the community - 5 coffees
Funding a place on a Learn-to-Fix-your-Bike community workshop - 15 coffees
Refurbish a kid’s bike - 20 coffees
Train/mentor a young person for a day - 50 coffees
Sponsor a young person to build a bike for their own use as part of our 1-to-1 mentoring programme - 150 coffees
Without your support the project will not be possible. A contribution of support toward this project will enable us to keep inspiring real change for people and the planet and we hope you feel inspired to be a real part of this. We would be delighted to discuss any element of the project in more detail and would welcome visitors.
Thank you in advance,
Cycle Community CIC