Young Peoples Project
Our Youth Project
One of key projects is our youth project, it always has and always will be an important part of the work we do and is only made possible thanks to people donating bikes for re-use.
Nurturing Confidence, Wellbeing and Achievement
Our youth projects help young people develop and thrive has always been an important part of the work we do here at Gloucestershire Bike Project.
We offer free bike maintenance and repair workshops, and free bike building workshops all year.
Any young person aged 12-19 can book and there is no charge, we provide them with one of our donated bikes and any parts they will need to build themselves a bike to keep.
We also sometimes can arrange cycling days for our young people such as trips to the Forest of Dean.
What do we do?
FREE Bike Maintenance & Repair Workshops
We offer free bike maintenance & repair workshops, & free bike building workshops all year. Any young person aged 12-19 can book at no charge. We provide them with one of our donated bikes and any parts they will need to build themselves a bike to keep.
For disadvantaged/vulnerable young people.
Young people can be referred to this project by social workers, schools, youth offending services, parents who feel that their child needs a positive activity to be involved in or young people themselves who like the idea of doing something practical and hands on.
So, What are the benefits?
The Project
These free bike building workshops are available to any young person who is interested in bikes, or who needs a bike but doesn’t own one. Most of the young people who attend these courses are vulnerable young people who have been referred by social workers etc. but any young person aged 12+ can book a free place.
Crime Diversion
Some of the young people we work with are quite disengaged, many struggle to fit in at school and find themselves getting into trouble. One of the main aims of the work we do is crime diversion, giving young people confidence in themselves and the belief that they too can find a place in the world and have fulfilling lives. Far too often young people find themselves defined by their problems and begin to think of themselves in those terms.
We strive to help them see themselves in terms of their abilities and strengths and to understand that they can create bright futures for themselves if they put the effort in. Everyone has talents and gifts; some people just need a bit of extra help to believe this and support in uncovering their inert abilities.
Workshops
We run different youth projects throughout the year, including our workshops for disadvantaged young people, projects for young people with additional needs and work experience projects.
What do they learn?
Working with Matt, our workshop manager, each young person learns the art and craft of bicycle maintenance and repair while building themselves a bike that has been donated to us by the public.
Not only that, they also learn the principles of reuse in action- just because it’s broken you don’t have to throw it away- Fix It! They also get to connect with their work and value that bike more than you can imagine.
School & Community
We also run workshops for schools and other community organisations who work with children and young people. Some kids struggle in mainstream settings, but give them a bike, a pedal spanner and some grease and they thrive.
Every young person should be encouraged to see themselves as having skills and the ability to create a bright future for themselves and getting involved in an activity that makes you feel good can be the start of that.
Who can be referred?
Young people can be referred to the project by social workers, the police, schools or parents or carers who may feel that their child needs a positive activity to be involved in. This may be because they suffer with low self-esteem and are easily led and they get into trouble, because they are facing difficulties at home or for any number of reasons.
To enquire or book a young person on to a course contact the project: info@glosbikes.co.uk or 01452 690 979 and speak with the project co-ordinator.
Youth Project Application Form
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