Help is available for residents who need a bike for Christmas

Anyone who needs a bike in time for Christmas is encouraged to contact North Ayrshire Council’s Employability service.

The team at Equal Specialist Employability Support (SES) runs a successful bike upcycling project in summer, and it has proved to be a real hit with residents across the area.

The popular initiative sees unwanted bikes being donated, serviced, cleaned up and offered for free to members of the community who cannot afford to buy their own.

The Equal programme is a supported employment service that guides people with long-term health conditions and disabilities into work and training under the banner of the Employability service’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.

Based at Lochshore Park in Beith, the service offers a wide range of tailored support to get people across North Ayrshire back into work, start work for the first time or take a step up the career ladder. 

There is still time to get a bike for Christmas, with around 50 ready and looking for new homes.

The bicycles suit various ages – from children needing stabilisers to small adults – and people who would like to find out more are invited to contact Equal.

The programme is also supporting trainees to attain Velotech Cycle Maintenance Qualifications and SQA accreditation for Customer Service and Responsibilities of Employment.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “As we all know, sadly this time of year can be very challenging, financially, for people.

“The Equal bike project has been a great success and offers residents the opportunity to get a decent bike -which has been serviced and carefully checked for use– ahead of Christmas.

“There is no cost involved and the team would love to hear from anyone who is struggling to afford a bike would like to find out more.”

If you have a bike in relatively decent condition to donate that is lying unused in a shed or taking up valuable space in your garage, the team would also like to hear from you. Please do not attempt to donate bikes that are not suitable for upcycling.

You can donate an unwanted bike, or if your child has outgrown theirs, you can swap it for a bigger one and someone else will be gifted their original bicycle.

If you donate a bicycle, the trainee bike mechanics will check the gears, brakes and other bike parts for wear and tear – and give it a service.

The project is helping to stop unused bikes going to landfill and is also giving families and individuals a chance to get one for free that they otherwise could not afford.

To find out how you can donate a bike, or receive one in time for Christmas, please email supportedemployment@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or phone 07966 204 010 before 17

Ayr KA8 9FH

The team will, subject to availability, do their best to accommodate you. If you are making a donation, the team can arrange delivery or collection – but please only offer bicycles that are worth restoring.

The Equal staff are holding a Christmas Craft Fayre event at the Lochshore Hub in Beith (the postcode for satnav is KA14 3BE) from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, December 6. Everyone is welcome and there will be lots of stalls selling festive goodies. You can also speak to the bike experts on the day.

If you would like to host your own stall, please emailsupportedemployment@north-ayrshire.gov.ukfor more details.