After receiving a grant from Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation’s Local Donors Fund, Leicester City of Sanctuary were able to run a project offering bicycle loans to asylum-seekers living locally.
During the project sixty-nine bikes were allocated to users who used the bikes for a broad range of activities around Leicestershire. The bikes enabled users to travel to appointments they otherwise may not have been able to attend and this included getting to college, training, church services, welfare appointments and social gatherings with friends and peers.
The bicycle loan scheme also meant a number of those involved in the project were able to volunteer, forging links and carrying out worthwhile work in both their local and wider communities. The scheme also reduced the amount of travel vouchers used for local transport – not to mention increasing the fitness level of all those involved!
Feedback from users included: ‘The bicycle is very helpful and has helped me to reduce my weight’ and ‘the bike scheme changed my life.’
Not bad value for £980 we think you’ll agree!
Further to the success of this scheme, Leicester City of Sanctuary is now hoping to secure further funding to grow the project.
For more information about the work of Leicester City of Sanctuary you can visit their website here: http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/leicester.
If you would like to help Leicester City of Sanctuary or other charities working in your local community, contact us on 0116 2624 916.
