Young people have been learning how to fix up old bicycles and be safer on the roads thanks to a new course at the Riverside Youth Hub.
Working closely with mobile bike maintenance expert, Leon Trembath of Omnicycles, they gained skills in fixing and maintaining bikes at the Youth Hub on London Road, Bath, every Monday evening for four weeks.
They also learned about road safety awareness and how to check the roadworthiness of their bike. The bikes were donated by members of the public who no longer needed them and, as a reward for all their hard work; the young people were able to ride away on the bike that they had repaired.
One of the young people benefiting from the course was 16-year-old Anth Brown from Bath. He said: “It was wicked; I’ve learned how to fit new brake cables and how to put on a new chain.”
Councillor Dine Romero (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Youth Hubs offer a range of activities and opportunities to help young people make a positive difference to their lives and communities. We hope that the young people have learned new skills and gained increased confidence which could help them to run the project in the future – making it peer-led and self-sustainable.”
Future bike maintenance projects are planned thanks to the support of Somerset Crimebeat which has funded the purchase of the specialist tools needed to repair and maintain the bikes.
Young people who are interested in future courses or any other project/activity taking place at Riverside Youth Hub can contact: [email protected]; call 01225 337844 or check out the Facebook page ‘Riverside Youth and Community Hub’ for what’s on.