The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A South Holland charity is working on a wheely good idea for the community.
Wheels for Life is a new scheme for bike donation which will take pre-loved bikes and bring them back to a usable condition for them to be gifted to people who do not have the opportunity to enjoy the varied benefits of owning and using a bike.
The scheme has now launched in Holbeach and is now accepting bike donations at Tonic Health’s Holbeach Hub, in Boston Road, in partnership with Active Lincolnshire.
The scheme is encouraging people to search their garages and sheds for any unloved and unused bike that can be donated.
It is recommended that bikes donated are adult and older children’s bikes in a useable and repairable condition.
Michael Morris, chair of trustees, Tonic Health said: ‘‘We have been humbled by the number of bicycle donations we have received to date.
“Our new bike mechanic is currently undergoing his training and will be putting his skills to good use very soon.
“Our project group members will be actively involved in learning how to repair and upgrade the bicycles before they are moved on to new owners, making the whole process really beneficial to so many different people.”
When the bikes arrive to the hub, they are repaired and fully serviced by volunteers to ensure that they have a long service life when they reach their new homes.
The bikes will then be gifted to people across the county along with a cyclist starter kit.
The hub team are working with referral partners around Lincolnshire who are involved in supporting people in the local area who need a bike free of charge through the scheme.
People are encouraged to contact the referral partners through the website who will be available to chat about how a bike will help and if appropriate will refer people to the scheme and match them with an appropriate bike and accessories.
The scheme is being overseen by Active Lincolnshire, the county’s charity that advocates for creating inclusive, accessible opportunities for people to be active.
The charity launched the new scheme to rehome unloved and unwanted bicycles, and to support people in transport poverty.
Anyone wishing to donate can visit www.wheelsforlife.co.uk or, if you’d like to get a bike through the scheme, visit www.activelincolnshire.com/wheels-for-life-bike-donation-lincolnshire/referral
