A bike donation programme has been devised in Oxfordshire that will allow refugees across the county to claim a free bike.

Sanctuary Wheels – a donation programme jointly run by Cyclox, Active Oxfordshire and Asylum Welcome, in partnership with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and other community organisations – has launched county-wide to provide free, refurbished bikes and tuition for hundreds of refugees across Oxfordshire.

Which of course includes the many refugees who are fleeing the war in Ukraine and arriving now in the county.

Bikes will be provided, with lights, locks, helmets, along with translated tuition delivered by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure refugees can ride safely.

Regular bike donations will be held where Oxfordshire residents can donate any unwanted bikes, which will then be checked over and refurbished before being donated to refugees.

The next bike donation will be Saturday, May 21 from 10am-12pm at Rewley Road Fire Station, Oxford.

A spokesperson for Asylum Welcome said: “We see, and our clients tell us, that having a bike makes a huge difference to their morale. It gets them out and doing, gives them freedom of transport and often is a crucial factor in being able to take up educational and therapeutic support.

“It can be a major stage in becoming an independent member of society.”

Councillor Doctor Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, Oxford City Council Migrant Champion, said: “Life can be so tough and lonely when you have left everyone and everything you know behind.

“Being able to cycle safely will give refugees the freedom they need to be able to weave that net of safety and community we all need to live happily and thrive.

“I arrived in the UK as a teenager and though I knew how to cycle in parks and green spaces, I had no confidence cycling on roads at all.

“Having access to bikes and learning to cycle safely is crucial. The Sanctuary Wheels project will not only provide refugees with the equipment but also the skills needed to do just that.”

Active Oxfordshire is a registered charity dedicated to fighting inactivity and helping the Oxfordshire community get active, tackle health issues and change their lives.

Whilst Cyclox campaigns to put cycling at the heart of Oxford’s future, and Welcome Asylum, which has been in Oxford since 1991, utilises its volunteer base to help refugees feel welcome, safe and confident in their new community.  

The collective organisers are also launching a fundraising appeal to cover the costs involved with the project. Which can be found here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/SanctuaryWheels

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok

Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here

List an event for free on our website here