Build a Bike gives young people the opportunity to explore bike repair and maintenance
17/02/2020
Poplar HARCA's youth service Spotlight recently teamed up with Bikeworks to give 18 young people the opportunity to explore bike repair and maintenance by constructing and deconstructing bikes straight from the manufacturing box.
Tower Hamlets is the 2nd highest borough in London for missing or damaged TfL Cycle Scheme bikes, and last year much ASB and criminality reported in HARCA’s Bow West ward involved young people on bikes. Spotlight and Bikeworks used this new ‘bike culture’ as a platform to offer alternative positive outcomes for young people. Through consultation with young people, they designed a 2-day Build a Bike course as a direct intervention to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in this area.
During the course, young people learn to assemble a bike from scratch, fix faulty brake systems and punctures and tune bike gears, to gain a Level 1 in Bikeability. The course was a huge success, and as a result Spotlight plans to start a local bike club where young people can share repair and maintenance knowledge amongst themselves.
Want to get involved?
To sign up for the next course or to find out more, pop into Lansbury Spotlight (30 Hay Curry Street, E14 6GN) or contact Emmanuel, Outreach Coordinator on 07984 723 474.
