Bike for Good Deliver Bikes to Children of Families In Need

Cycling charity Bike for Good has won funding to deliver bikes to children from low income families across Glasgow, who couldn’t otherwise afford a bicycle.

The charity already supports adults on low incomes with access to a bike, through their innovative social inclusion project ‘Bikes for All’ which provides heavily discounted memberships and free rides on Glasgow nextbikes. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic the charity has been inundated with requests for affordable childrens bikes.

Glasgow’s nextbikes are only available in adult size, leading the dynamic charity to spot a gap in services. Moving quickly, Bike for Good put together a programme to support access to children’s bikes and were delighted to be awarded funding from the SCVO Wellbeing Fund.

The SCVO Wellbeing Fund was established to support organisations across the third sector that are providing important services to people who are most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This forms part of a £350 million package from the Scottish Government.

Communications Lead at Bike for Good, Kimberley White, said:
“We are looking to create a healthy and inclusive environment where everyone in the community gets to benefit from cycling. Bike sales have boomed during lockdown, but it didn’t feel right to us that there were kids from low income families missing out on the joy of riding a bike, simply because they couldn’t afford to buy one. Children are developing serious mental health conditions as a result of this pandemic, and riding a bike gets them out with their friends, releasing endorphins and having fun. Everyone should have access to a bike, and we are genuinely honoured to do our bit to help little ones during this testing time.”

If you know of a family who could benefit from access to this support, you can contact Bike for Good on wheelbeing@bikeforgood.org.uk.

The charity is currently overwhelmed with requests for bikes through this opportunity, so if you have a bike that would suit a child or a teen that you would be willing to donate, please do!

Donate a bike: https://www.bikeforgood.org.uk/shop/donate-a-bike-during-covid-19/