Triple Olympic Gold medallist, Ed Clancy OBE, returned to his roots in Barnsley today to present a very special bicycle to 10-year-old Amina, a young refugee now living in Barnsley.
The bicycle is the 100th to be refurbished through a community-based scheme to recycle used bikes for refugees. Affordable transport is a key issue for refugees so the gift of a bike can make a huge difference, helping to open new opportunities and make life more manageable.
Ed Clancy, who is also the Active Travel Commissioner for South Yorkshire, said, “I was born here in Barnsley and my first love was riding bikes. For me, back then, before it was a vehicle for success, cycling was about getting out and about, seeing my friends – it was about freedom, independence, and choice – so I’m very proud to be here today to give out this special 100th recycled bike to another young person in Barnsley.”
Amina is planning to use the bike to go to school. Three other refurbished bikes were presented to 30-year-old student Tamru, and two children, brother and sister 13-year-old Ibrahim and 11-year-old Kaddi. Tamru, who escaped from Eritrea, is about to start studies at Barnsley College and his new set of wheels will help him to get to college. Eventually he hopes to train for a job in the Health Service as a Nurse or Medical Lab Technician, which he was originally training for in Eritrea.
The life-changing recycling scheme is led by local volunteer Alex Simon, a pastoral mentor for young people in his day job and a keen cyclist in his spare time, with a talent for bike repairs. For each bike, Alex does an assessment and repairs anything that needs improving – usually just brake adjustments and puncture repairs. Other volunteers then transport the refurbished bikes to the Refugee Council in Barnsley, which acts as a co-ordinator matching bikes to requests from refugees.
It all started when Alex attended a meeting of a local refugee and asylum seeker support group based in Penistone, where someone reported that a refugee had requested a bike. Alex responded and refurbished his own spare bike. Other requests from refugees quickly followed and soon, what had started as a one-off act of kindness became an organised scheme, supported by the Penistone Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Group, the Barnsley Borough City of Sanctuary and the Refugee Council, as well as cycle organisations like Sustrans.
Alex said, “The generosity and kindness of people in Barnsley has been absolutely amazing, to the point where we’ve been able to recycle over a hundred bikes and we’re now starting to organise bike rides for people to meet up. Today is a fantastic milestone and I’d like to thank everyone who’s donated and helped us get to this point.”
To donate bikes to the refurbishment scheme, contact: [email protected]
Transport is
a key issue for asylum seekers and refugees so the gift of a bike can make a huge difference, helping to open up new opportunities and make life that little bit brighter.
Now, thanks to the efforts of Alex Simon, a volunteer working with the Penistone Asylum Seekers and Refugees Support Group and the Refugee Council, bikes are being donated, refurbished and distributed to asylum seekers and refugees all over Barnsley.
It all started when Alex, who is a pastoral mentor for young people in his day job, attended a meeting of the Penistone Asylum Seekers and Refugees Support Group. Someone reported that a refugee had requested a bike. Alex had a bike in the shed and offered his services. It started a trend and now over 50 bikes have been recycled. For each one, Alex does an assessment, repairs anything that needs repairing, then other volunteers transport the refurbished bikes to the Refugee Council who co-ordinate requests. 
A lot of the donated bikes barely need any repairs, as Alex explains: “Some are brand new. Most need brakes adjusting, cleaning up and perhaps a puncture repair. We get all sorts – from mountain bikes to children’s bikes of all shapes and sizes.”
Alex has been impressed by people’s kindness: “I repair bikes in my street and as people go past, they see what I’m doing and they offer things like helmets and seats and all sorts. A lot of people round here have big hearts. A friend of mine who’s a teacher has been sharing what we’re doing in his area and acting as a co-ordinator passing on donations. Someone else from the Penistone Group who’s a great mechanic has been doing more serious repairs, tackling the major jobs. It’s great.”
Alex is glad to use his skills to make a difference: “I met one man who took a bike. It provided him with freedom to be able to go and visit his friends, which made life a bit better. It’s good for mental health as well as providing a means of getting about.”
Do you have a bike that you or your children no longer use?
Why not donate it to a good cause!
Contact: [email protected]