Guildford Bike Project Celebrates Two Years Of Success

Published on: 19 May, 2014
Updated on: 19 May, 2014

Social enterprise scheme the Guildford Bike Project has marked two very successful years with the official opening of its refurbished and extended workshop.

John Thurlow, Mayor David Elms, and laura Thurlow cut the ribbon pictured with some of the young people who work at The Guildford Bike Project.

John Thurlow, Mayor David Elms, and Laura Thurlow cut the ribbon and are pictured with some of the young people who work at the Guildford Bike Project.

Its base at the Guildford Borough Council depot in Woking Road is a hive of activity of all things on two wheels.

Many of those closely association with the scheme gathered on Friday last week to see the Mayor of Guildford, David Elms, declare the refurbished workshop open.

He officially cut the ribbon with Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s John Thurlow (community learning advisor and bike project co-ordinator) and Laura Thurlow (no relation to John) from the Guildford Donors project (part of the Community Foundation for Surrey), that has secured a £14,000 grant for the bike project.

Over the past two years, 2,000 cycles have been donated to the Guildford Bike Project. Of those more than 1,000 have been refurbished and worked on by more than 100 volunteers. Bicycles are then sold to the public for very reasonable prices.

John Thurlow said: “This has greatly improving the life chances of some of the most vulnerable people in our community with mentoring, skills and learning. We are passionate to continue with this work and to develop further initiatives centred around learning and skills and look forward to continued support to help us achieve this aim.”

Along with its outlet in Southway, 20 young people have been trained, so they can further their careers, while 40 volunteers have received specific and most useful training.

Laura Thurlow said: “We are delighted with the generosity of our donors and £14,000 is a large grant indeed.”

The Mayor, David Elms, said: “It is terrific the work that is being done by the Guildford Bike Project. I would like to thank them all on behalf of the local community.”

John Thurlow also announced that the project now has City & Guilds accreditation, which will mean even better opportunities for young jobseekers.