Free Bikes for Kids (Norfolk) - Round 3

We are Bicycle Links, a social enterprise in Norwich. In 2021, we set up a project that re-uses all the children's bikes donated to us. Remember your first bike? A bike makes a huge impact on young people. There are lots of children living in low-income families that cannot afford bikes and we decided to do something about this by setting up the project.

We believe every child should have a bike regardless of circumstances and we'd like to make that happen. We've got demand, we have the bikes and we have our volunteers ready to go but now we need you!

During the two previous rounds, we heard from families where either a parent or a child was disabled, from single parents and from families where two working parents struggled to make ends meet. We also heard about children in care and children impacted by domestic violence.  After feedback from parents and schools, we know how much difference the bikes made to these children...

'My son had not had a bike before. So by getting the bike from you, you have given him a childhood memory that I could not afford to do. I am so very grateful.' 

'The bikes that we have been able to access from your service have made a huge difference to the children receiving them. It has also helped the children with their attendance and punctuality at school. The fact that the children receive a helmet as well is also another amazing bonus, as they may not have worn one otherwise.' 

'My son absolutely loves the bike that he got from this scheme, it’s helped him to work on his confidence and his social abilities when around other children! Which is really useful in regard to his social difficulties stemming from autism. Thanks again!' 

                    Who will get the bikes? 

We have existing contacts with schools, Children's Services and other local agencies that support disadvantaged families and children in care. Through referrals, they make requests directly to us for bikes.

              Safety first! What about helmets? 

Each bike will be supplied with a new helmet and, for older children, also a lock to ensure that the bike is not stolen. As we already run a shop, we can source these at trade prices for our project.

            Who will be refurbishing the bikes? 

Our lovely team of volunteers will work on the bikes at our Anglia Square workshop with instruction from our staff tutors. Our volunteers learn skills, socialise and build confidence by recycling and refurbishing bikes.

                    Why do we need funding? 

We need to pay qualified staff, both to run the volunteer workshops to refurbish the bikes and to check each bike and make sure it's safe to ride. We also have to pay for workshop space (rent and rates) and utility bills. Finally, we need spare parts for the bikes, and to pay for the new accessories.

                  What do we hope to achieve? 

Do you remember your first bike? Having a bike is an important part of childhood and a free, fun activity for the whole family. Having a bike promotes a sense of freedom, boosts physical and mental health, encourages exploration, and nurtures a lifelong love for outdoor activities. A bike gets them to school and can become a gateway to friendship, helping children build social connections while pedalling together. 

 But bikes are a big expense for children in care and for families who are low-paid or unemployed, and we want to ensure that these children don't miss out.

Lots of children's bikes are no longer wanted once the child grows out of it or something goes wrong that needs fixing, so recycling them makes a lot of sense. The new owners will love the bikes, our volunteers get skills and satisfaction working on the bikes, and the bikes get re-used instead of going to the 'tip'. That's three achievements in one project!

By donating, you have the opportunity to unlock the power of a bike and make a lasting impact. Together, we can make childhood memories that will last a lifetime.

      Donate today and be a hero on two wheels

About us:

Bicycle Links CIC is a social enterprise, set up in 2011. Our business model is to run a commercial shop, which keeps the enterprise going year in, year out, and then to fit community projects alongside. 

Over the years we have run over a dozen projects with grant funding, sponsorship or crowdfunding, or a mixture of the three. To every project Bicycle Links contributes management time, staff skills and access to tools and materials.

Our current projects are:

• CycleLink discount scheme for people referred by organisations to help them back into employment, with sponsorship from Greater Anglia Trains
• Welcome Wheels, bikes for refugees and asylum seekers in Norfolk (working with New Routes, English+ and Norfolk County Council's People from Abroad Team)
• Free Bikes for Kids!

More information about us and our sales and repair services is on our website  www.bicyclelinks.org.uk