Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has made good use of abandoned bikes by using them to help people with learning difficulties gain new skills and independence.
The bikes had been left at Thameslink and Great Northern stations.
GTR has handed almost 40 of these unclaimed bicycles over to TAG Bikes, which is based at the Huntington Community Centre.
TAG’s team of 15 adults with learning difficulties, under the supervision of an employment skills worker qualified as a bike mechanic, is currently servicing and repairing the machines to re-sell. Money raised by the bicycles will be put back into the charity, run by Cambridgeshire County Council, as part of its Supporting into Work programme.
GTR first began donating bikes to TAG in 2018.
The bikes are sold at affordable prices to people in the local community. Money raised so far has already paid for computer equipment and a television for the workshop, as well as parts to fix more bikes.
Thameslink and Great Northern customer services director, Jenny Saunders, said: “A surprising number of bikes get left on our network, so we’re delighted to make partnerships with charities and local authorities who run schemes to make them roadworthy again. Our support means these community projects can help local people gain new skills and work experience, and provide an affordable way for more people to enjoy the health and environmental benefits of cycling. It’s a real win-win-win all round, and we’ve now donated well over 1,000 bikes to schemes across the South East.”
Cllr Susan van de Ven, vice chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Adults and Health Committee, said: “The bike donations we receive are vital to the success of TAG Bikes and helping the development of our learners.
“I’d like to thank GTR for its generous support which will help this brilliant community initiative and allow us to get more people with learning disabilities into work and to improve their independence.”
Image credit: GTR
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