Barnsley Refugee Bike Project

05/11/2025

The Barnsley Refugee Bike Project has been chosen to receive local funding from the Co-Op. By logging into or creating a Co-Op account and choosing our project you can boost that support so that we can continue to grow the help and support that we can give back to our local community. Thank you. 😃
https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/99453?fbclid=IwZnRzaAN3sspleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeKKnE-nFey2ei4o-qnJtV0N4ZXy4ymijruLDORIJVexOgQAPNfHVgnN_HGqA_aem_f-BLsLkkyMS9Yy7nIA8wRQ

The Co-op Local Community Fund is supporting Pen*stone Refugee and Asylum Seekers Support Group. Become a member or sign in to choose a local cause to support.

03/06/2025

Happy World Bicycle Day everyone. 😃

In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day.[1][2] The resolution for World Bicycle Day recognizes "the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and....

31/05/2025

This is a bmx bike with an unusually good colour scheme. It’s rare that our source bikes are this nice or this complete but we’ve been very fortunate lately with quite a few really good ones.
All of our donor bikes are thoroughly checked over before they are made available for their next owners and in general they need some air in the tyres and some adjustments to brakes and gears. Some chains are replaced, brake pads, cables, tyres, tubes, grips and shifters too, although rarely all of those on the same bike. We have a library of spares from wheels to gear changers, stocked from donor bikes that were beyond tender loving care.
So even if a whole bike isn’t viable to go on to a new owner, bits will invariably rescue another bike. We’re very grateful for every donation of bikes or bits. Thank you.

24/05/2025

We don’t just refurb adults bikes. Here are some children’s and youth’s bikes that we also do up and check over. They are available free of charge for refugees and asylum seekers or for a small donation (which will help us to refurb a few more bikes) for anyone else. Now that the school holidays are upon us, if you or your youngsters need a bike, get in touch and see if we can help you.

02/04/2025

Publicity about the project’s message is starting to gain some momentum, which is great to see. If you know of anyone who might like to help recycling a bike or two and or showing someone else how to do it, please pass this information on. 😃

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CBoKjht7s/?mibextid=wwXIfr

22/03/2025

https://barnsley.cityofsanctuary.org/2024/11/29/pen*stone-refugee-bike-project

Building a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary

22/03/2025

And this is why being active is such an important thing for everyone to support.

22/03/2025

The Barnsley Refugee Bike Project refurbishes pre-owned bikes before distributing them to those in need and in 2024 donated more than 500 across South Yorkshire - and further afield.

The scheme is the brainchild of Alex after he donated his own spare bike to a newly arrived refugee.

He said: "I attended a meeting at the Pen*stone asylum seekers support group and we heard a chap was after a bike. I had a spare bike I donated.

"It railroaded from there. We've had bikes donated from Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.

"We've even had a colleague fish bikes out of a canal to help us out."

Alex started the project from his own garage
collecting and repairing them, but with recent National Lottery funding, the project has been able to move into a dedicated unit.

He also organises monthly community bike rides to help users get to know the local area.

He said: "It's been really interesting to see.
"The refugee and asylum seekers have been coming back to build up their skills."

Barnsley Council public health director Anna Hartley has praised the project as a "shining example of how community initiatives can support health and wellbeing".

She said: "It's about freedom, opportunity, and connection.

"This project combines all that, while giving old bikes new life, reducing waste, and building a stronger, more inclusive community here in Barnsley."