The Chichester Bike Project

Overview

Join us at the Chichester Bike Project, where community ownership meets social impact! 

Watch our video, pledge your support and share far and wide. Thank you! 

UPDATE: £50,000 MATCH FUNDING APPROVED, WE NEED TO MATCH IT TO UNLOCK THE INVESTMENT!

We are proud to announce that our community share offer has been offered £50,000 in equity match investment from Co-operatives UK’s Community Shares Booster Fund.  This has been added to our Crowdfunder total with an aim to boost our momentum to get to £100,000.

This means that for every pound the community invests up to £50,000, we’ll have another pound in investment from the fund. 

The Booster Fund’s buy-in and confidence in our share offer also demonstrates we are a credible community venture that is worth investing in. 

This is brilliant news, but these funds can only be unlocked if we reach £50,000 by 10th August, please support us by investing and sharing our campaign far and wide.

At The Chichester Bike Project, our goal is bold and clear: to revolutionise cycling in our community and transform lives. We want to make cycling safer, more accessible, and undeniably fun for everyone. By refurbishing donated bicycles, we're not just fixing gears and brakes – we're creating opportunities for vulnerable individuals, boosting skills, and igniting confidence like never before. 

But we can't do it alone. We need YOU! Your support will fuel our journey, covering essential equipment, start-up costs, and operational expenses. Together, let's empower our community, champion sustainable transport, and paint a brighter future for Chichester and beyond. Are you ready to pedal towards progress with us? Join the movement today! 

Our Story

We're gearing up to create something truly extraordinary: a community-driven enterprise that's not just about bikes – it's about empowerment, inclusion, and a healthier way of life. 

Imagine a place where everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can come together to build skills, confidence, and connections. That's the vision behind The Chichester Bike Project. At our core, we're all about recycling bicycles, saving them from landfill, to serve our community's need for affordable, eco-friendly transport. 

But that's just the beginning. We will be offering a range of services to enrich the lives of cyclists and aspiring cyclists alike, making our mark in Chichester and beyond. We will be working hand-in-hand with young people and adults from diverse backgrounds, providing them with the tools they need to succeed. We will transform donated bicycles into affordable, high-quality rides, while simultaneously offering training, life skills, and valuable work experience to those who need it most. 

And the best part? These refurbished bikes will be available to members of our community at prices that won't break the bank. Because we believe that a bike isn't just a mode of transport – it's a gateway to opportunity. It's a ticket to employment, confidence, adventure, and self-care. 

At the centre in Shopwyke Lake, not only will you find a vibrant bike workshop buzzing with energy, but you'll also discover a community hub bursting with potential, where local groups and organisations can come together. Our community hub is a space for collaboration and innovation, managed by the Bike Project, available for hire, generating income to support our mission and keep the wheels turning. 

There will also be a start-up café on-site, enabling you to enjoy your favourite brew whilst chatting with fellow bike enthusiasts or soaking up the atmosphere of this social hub. Plus, by partnering with a tenant to run the café, we're not only providing a space for the community but also boosting our project's income through rental and profit sharing. 

Let's transform this space into a hub of activity, innovation, and fellowship. Help us pedal towards a brighter future, empowering our community one bike at a time. Together, we can make a difference. Are you ready to ride with us and be part of the journey? 

Our Free Weekly Community Sessions

Earn-a-Bike: This initiative enables individuals facing long-term barriers to employment the opportunity to refurbish and keep a donated bike, learning basic bicycle mechanics in the process. We also run Earn-a-Bike Youth sessions for young people aged 8 - 18. 

After School Bikes: A session for young people aged 8 - 18 to maintain their bike and to learn bike mechanics. 

Fix-a-Bike: Designed for both volunteers and members of the public to use our facilities whether tinkering with our donated bikes or bringing along their own wheels. 

Why are we Crowdfunding?

We want The Chichester Bike Project to be owned and run by the community. 

Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) has taken on the responsibility for the startup phase of The Chichester Bike Project and the development of the share offer, as well as the establishment of the Charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS).  

CCDT is a community owned and led organisation, a registered charity and company limited by guarantee founded in October 2009 that has a membership model of governance and local control.  

CCDT's role in this phase involves navigating the regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, and establishing the governance structure for the CBS. This includes defining the roles and responsibilities of the board, developing a constitution, and setting up mechanisms for community participation in decision-making processes. 

We’re raising £120,000 that will cover 

• The purchase of suitable equipment, tools, IT equipment and stock to equip the workshop 
• The marketing campaign to launch the business  
• Working capital to cover VAT in start-up costs and provide cashflow for overheads while we build the business.  
• If we raise our maximum level of investment, we will also be able to purchase a storage container to provide extra storage for donated and saved bike parts. 

There is a sense of urgency here, if we don’t have this project we won’t: 

• Secure a viable use for this valuable community space 
• Be able to offer an affordable resource for bike purchase in the city 
• Be able to provide employment opportunities 
• Be able to provide volunteer opportunities 
• Save unwanted bikes going to landfill 
• Be able to bring people together for the love of bikes 

Objectives

Our objectives include:  

• Empowerment - Empower people within our community by providing access to affordable and sustainable transportation and encouraging an ethos of DIY and DIT (Do It Together!).  

• Community - Strengthen our community by providing an inclusive, vibrant and supportive workshop environment for people from all backgrounds to come and work alongside one another.  

• Education - Deliver an educational experience for all by creating opportunities to learn and develop lifelong bike maintenance skills and offer people the opportunity to have contact with positive role models.  

• Sustainability - Promote sustainability by saving bicycles and their working parts from landfill, encouraging reuse wherever possible, and offering an alternative to buying new. 

 • Wellbeing - Encourage fitness and wellbeing by making bikes accessible to anyone and offering an inclusive programme of activities anyone can enjoy. 

A Strong Business Case – We Know It Works!

Over several years, CCDT and volunteers have dedicated resources to researching and studying similar bike projects. This research has led to meaningful partnerships and collaborations with notable projects in various locations, including The Bristol Bike Project, Worthing and Angmering.  

This research identified patterns of success, innovative approaches, and lessons learned that will be used to garner success. 

When the share offer is complete CCDT will gift to the Community Benefit Society (CBS) the following:  

• Website, marketing, and brand  
• Social media accounts and templates  
• Startup equipment and materials to the value of £15k  
• Granting of a Lease (up to 25 years) for the premises at Longacre House, Shopwyke Lakes 
• Research and development findings 

The Chichester Bike Project Share Offer

When you invest in shares, you’ll become a member of the society with voting rights, giving you a say in how things are done. You’ll also become an owner of the society’s assets alongside other members, meaning you become a co-owner of The Chichester Bike Project. 

We want to bring The Chichester Bike Project into community ownership and seek to raise a target of £120K in share capital.  

• Optimum shares target: £120,000   
• Minimum share subscription per person: £100 
• Target interest rate: 5% from year 3  
• Target for withdrawals: 10% withdrawals of share capital per year from year 4 

Investment levels  

• Each share is worth £1  
• Minimum individual investment: £100.00, with reduced minimum investment of £75 for residents of Shopwyke Lakes development 
• Maximum individual investment: £12,000 (or 10% of the shares issued, whichever is the lesser amount) 

Tax Relief

Our project has received advanced assurance from HMRC that investments will be eligible for SEIS tax relief. Full details are on the Share Offer document below. 

We really need your support!

Whatever form it takes, your support and contributions will be hugely appreciated. You can support us by: 

• Pledging - however large or small, every bit counts 
• Sharing our Crowdfunder campaign on social media 
• Telling your friends and getting the word out 

Thank you for reading and for your support - spread the word and see you soon! 

Love from The Chichester Bike Project