Anyone In North Devon Interested In Setting Up A Bike Charity?

[Lovacott]

We've all seen a perfectly good bike sticking arse end out of a skip down the local rubbish tip. Ridden a couple of times, chucked in a shed for ten years and then thrown out with the tins of Dulux paint you were saving which have now turned to concrete.

There's not much you can do with a solid tin of paint, but the ten year old bike with a few hundred miles on the clock can be turned into a life changer for anyone who wants to try cycling but doesn't have the means to get a brand new bike.

I can get my hands on some start up capital (enough to establish a charity and secure premises for a couple of years or so), but I'd welcome some PM's from anyone interested in managing, helping out, or remotely lending expertise when needed.

 

[vickster]

Don’t forget to budget for indemnity insurance

good luck

 

[Big John]

Might be worth getting in touch with the trustees of our bike charity, Back2bikes in Stafford, for advice. There are others, of course. I know there's a cooperative in Bourneville. I think they're called The Bike Foundry. Unlike us they also do courses such as bike maintenance and wheel building. A bit of free advice wouldn't go amiss. Initially there's quite an outlay, tools, insurance, etc, but I believe there are places where funding can be found. And of course you need to register as a charity. You'll be surprised at how generous folks can be too! Restores your faith in human nature 👍

 

[Rusty Nails]

There's a well established bike repair charity/not for profit organisation in Bristol as well.

It would be much better for you to get in touch with an organisation like that for practical help and information.

I have volunteered as a mechanic, not on the organisational side, at one such organisation in Cardiff for 11 years and I know it does take a lot of money, time and organisation to set one up. Issues such as staff/volunteers, premises, tools, stock, insurance, local authority liaison, rent rates, lighting & heating, publicity, website etc.

Good luck with your plan.

 

[Lovacott]

There's a well established bike repair charity/not for profit organisation in Bristol as well.
Good luck with your plan.

I'm thinking along the lines of starting by encouraging others to do their own repairs by providing a workshop and tools and charging a fiver an hour for its use. A four bike workshop could be set up in a fairly small space. Fault diagnosis would be free and if new parts were required, the person would be advised on what they needed to get to effect a repair. For those genuinely unable to pay for spares or workshop time, assistance would be offered.

When they've sourced the parts, they could book a repair slot online and somebody would be on hand to advise them as they do the work themselves. The attraction for the user will be the saving on specialist tools which they would otherwise have had to buy (freewheel tool, torque wrench, chain splitter etc.). For experienced cyclists of means, the workshop and tools would be available for free in exchange for either volunteering time or a decent donation.

Where it would go from there would depend on how much it is used and what feedback it gets.

I'd avoid fixing up and selling used bikes initially. Instead, old bikes could be donated and either stripped down for spares or tagged as available for free with the "buyer" carrying out the restoration work themselves in the workshop and paying for any new parts themselves. Before the bike could be taken away, it would have have to pass a roadworthiness test.

KIds under 16 would have to be accompanied by a responsible adult and all volunteers would would have to satisfy a full working with children check.

The part of Devon I live in seems idyllic and flash houses are everywhere you look. But the area has a very low wage economy and a significant proportion of the good properties are either second homes or retirement houses for people who've flogged a terrace in Slough and bought a detached in Instow. Local workers are mostly relegated to renting whilst earning minimum wage. Town centres are blighted by drug addicts fed via the "county lines" route. Most of the work is in tourism, aged care or providing services such as odd jobbing, gardening etc. The local authority area I live in, is officially one of the poorest in England.

As a result, there is a fair bit of funding available for charities which could help keep young people on the straight and narrow. There is also the undoubted health benefit of encouraging kids away from their devices and on to a bike. Not to mention the green aspect of cycling as transport.

I've got some good business contacts locally and there are a couple who have unused indoor space which I could have for a peppercorn rent. The company I work for is also pretty good with local charities and each year fundraises significant amounts for local causes. I have friends who work in accountancy, health and safety and law and all have expressed an interest in offering their services.

I used to live in Bristol (1979 to 1990) and it's a city with a lot of community based projects (I used to volunteer at St Werburghs City Farm and helped fundraise for the Bristol Community Festival and I marshalled at the Kingsdown Fair).

I'll contact the bike charity you mention because I'd like to go and take a look and it's not that far away from me.

 

[vickster]

This is the Bristol one I think
https://thebristolbikeproject.org/

pretty much closed to the public right now due to Covid
https://thebristolbikeproject.org/2...ways-of-working-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

 

[Lovacott]

This is the Bristol one I think
https://thebristolbikeproject.org/

pretty much closed to the public right now due to Covid
https://thebristolbikeproject.org/2...ways-of-working-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

I've just had a proper look at their website and they're based in the same building my missus used to work in many years ago.

I've sent them an email asking if it's OK if I visit after the restrictions are lifted.

 

[annedonnelly]

Too far for you to visit but they might be able to advise if you ask them - Recyke y'bike - they're the people I've volunteered with. They've been around a long time & weathered a few storms.

 

[Big John]

We've been open unhindered since all the lockdowns began. We follow the usual guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks but business has honestly been staggering, especially last spring when the weather picked up and everyone wanted to be out doing a bit of exercise. At one point we had no shop bikes left to sell but were still inundated with bikes requiring servicing and repairs. Any profits made are simply ploughed back into the charity. We only have one full time mechanic on the payroll and the rest is made up of volunteers. We're virtually next door to Halfords and get a lot of business from them, indirectly. Most of our customers can't afford the quotes they're given from Halfords so come to us. Rightly or wrongly we employ a 'can do' policy (and we don't always succeed but we try) rather than a 'can't do' one. We have a big unit now but started out really small and built it up over time. If you do start one up then get the local press behind you. You can't beat free publicity for getting you on the map 😉

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

Sorry but I absolutely hate what you are describing.

I read what you wrote, thought about it for a while but it sounds to me that you plan to run a "life style" business/hobby not a charity.

Fault diagnosis would be free and if new parts were required, the person would be advised on what they needed to get to effect a repair.
charging a fiver an hour for its use.
£5 per hour sounds expensive if you are genuinely a charity especially as 2 or 3 visits may be required to fix up a beaten but recoverable bike, then the owner has to buy their own parts.

When they've sourced the parts, they could book a repair slot online and somebody would be on hand to advise them as they do the work themselves.
Assuming that this is possible as it assumes easy internet access, this is very business like not informal charity help to get your bike working like.

How will this work when wrong advice is given and the person has spent more than they can afford on a part, or the part was needed but it turns out that more parts and money needs to be spent to complete the job?

What happens when the next free slot is a week away? Or are you assuming enough volunteers being available to allow you to be open 5/6/7 days a week say 09:00 - 21:00

The attraction for the user will be the saving on specialist tools which they would otherwise have had to buy (freewheel tool, torque wrench, chain splitter etc.).
It doesn't take many visits and it would have been cheaper to have bought the tools, except a torque wrench but who uses one on a non CF bike?

For experienced cyclists of means, the workshop and tools would be available for free in exchange for either volunteering time or a decent donation.
How many people would this really apply to? Especially as you require an enhanced DBS check for volunteers and a decent donation is surely greater than £5 so will be close to the cost of the tool anyway.

genuinely unable to pay for spares or workshop time, assistance would be offered.
Isn't this is whole point of the charity anyway?

KIds under 16 would have to be accompanied by a responsible adult
That seems to rule out a big portion on those who would benefit.

.... and all volunteers would would have to satisfy a full working with children check.
Expect many volunteers to tell you that you are being unreasonable, quite possibly less politely, and you have just added a £40 per volunteer cost for an enhanced DBS check.

Overall it sounds worryingly like you would be using charitable status, volunteers and goodwill to run what is in reality a business and using the charitable contributions to undercut people who make a living in this business.

Bye

Ian

 

[Lovacott]

Good morning,

Sorry but I absolutely hate what you are describing.

I read what you wrote, thought about it for a while but it sounds to me that you plan to run a "life style" business/hobby not a charity.

Fault diagnosis would be free and if new parts were required, the person would be advised on what they needed to get to effect a repair.
charging a fiver an hour for its use.
£5 per hour sounds expensive if you are genuinely a charity especially as 2 or 3 visits may be required to fix up a beaten but recoverable bike, then the owner has to buy their own parts.

When they've sourced the parts, they could book a repair slot online and somebody would be on hand to advise them as they do the work themselves.
Assuming that this is possible as it assumes easy internet access, this is very business like not informal charity help to get your bike working like.

How will this work when wrong advice is given and the person has spent more than they can afford on a part, or the part was needed but it turns out that more parts and money needs to be spent to complete the job?

What happens when the next free slot is a week away? Or are you assuming enough volunteers being available to allow you to be open 5/6/7 days a week say 09:00 - 21:00

The attraction for the user will be the saving on specialist tools which they would otherwise have had to buy (freewheel tool, torque wrench, chain splitter etc.).
It doesn't take many visits and it would have been cheaper to have bought the tools, except a torque wrench but who uses one on a non CF bike?

For experienced cyclists of means, the workshop and tools would be available for free in exchange for either volunteering time or a decent donation.
How many people would this really apply to? Especially as you require an enhanced DBS check for volunteers and a decent donation is surely greater than £5 so will be close to the cost of the tool anyway.

genuinely unable to pay for spares or workshop time, assistance would be offered.
Isn't this is whole point of the charity anyway?

KIds under 16 would have to be accompanied by a responsible adult
That seems to rule out a big portion on those who would benefit.

.... and all volunteers would would have to satisfy a full working with children check.
Expect many volunteers to tell you that you are being unreasonable, quite possibly less politely, and you have just added a £40 per volunteer cost for an enhanced DBS check.

Overall it sounds worryingly like you would be using charitable status, volunteers and goodwill to be in competition with people who make a living in this business.

Bye

Ian

Here's a bullet point response to your questions without quoting the questions.

£5.00 per hour would only be for those who could afford £5.

Booking a timeslot online would be the default method, but anyone without internet access could just ask me in person or ring me (or another volunteer).

A decent freewheel tool costs £15 and a bench vice and bench to use it on would cost another £500.

We'd open whenever we had the demand to open. Maybe as a result of a pre booked timeslot or a quick phone call.

KIds under 16 would be welcome to attend alone, but it would be preferable if they could be accompanied. Nobody would be turned away.

The charity/co-op would fund the cost of any checks.

The premises would be manned at the times when demand was the greatest. That's the beauty of modern technology and the internet.

Christ mate. You are such a negative person. Pull your head in a bit.

 

[newts]

It may be worth speaking to Ride On cycling charity based in Exeter, they may be willing to offer advice/support ?
https://www.rideoncycling.org/

 

[Lovacott]

Overall it sounds worryingly like you would be using charitable status, volunteers and goodwill to run what is in reality a business and using the charitable contributions to undercut people who make a living in this business.

I know the people who make a living out of cycling in the local area. Kids from the local council estates do not use them to fix their £5000 carbon road bikes.

 

[Rusty Nails]

We've been open unhindered since all the lockdowns began. We follow the usual guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks but business has honestly been staggering, especially last spring when the weather picked up and everyone wanted to be out doing a bit of exercise. At one point we had no shop bikes left to sell but were still inundated with bikes requiring servicing and repairs. Any profits made are simply ploughed back into the charity. We only have one full time mechanic on the payroll and the rest is made up of volunteers. We're virtually next door to Halfords and get a lot of business from them, indirectly. Most of our customers can't afford the quotes they're given from Halfords so come to us. Rightly or wrongly we employ a 'can do' policy (and we don't always succeed but we try) rather than a 'can't do' one. We have a big unit now but started out really small and built it up over time. If you do start one up then get the local press behind you. You can't beat free publicity for getting you on the map 😉

You could be volunteering in the same workshop as I am, even down to the Halfords nearby.

Because we compete with local bike shops our boss won’t let volunteers do repairs to pinch trade from those shops who have to pay their staff, but we concentrate on building up and repairing the donated bikes.

We get a lot of bikes given to us by local bike shops that they have taken in as part exchange deals. Another good source of bikes are the local police who give them to us rather than auction them off.

Incidentally, quite a few of our volunteers, who were unemployed, have been trained by us and moved on to paid jobs in commercial bike shops.

 

[Big John]

@IanSmithCSE what do you consider a charity to be?