The cycle of bikes
Raymond Mgadzah discovers how Quakers in Hull have turned derelict bicycles into vehicles of change
A bicycle-recycling project run by Hull Quakers is raising funds for a cash-strapped charity for the homeless in that northern town.
John Beardmore, aided by other Friends at the Bean Street Meeting House, has used his interest in refurbishing bikes to raise money for the proposed Emmaus Community in Hull.
John said: ‘I was forever picking up bits of bikes while walking the dog. I’m forever on the look out for them. I am a magnet for them. It’s one of those things I seem to have done most of my life.’
He added: ‘Each bike can take four to five hours, or sometimes more, but the finished product earns the Emmaus charity shop around fifty pounds. In the ten months the charity shop has been open, they have made over £1000.’
The refurbishing of the bikes can take many forms as many of them will have been abandoned – some into the river. ‘Parts may be loose. They may need brakes – anything could go wrong with the bikes including worn out parts. It could be a complete refurbishment. You name it, we do it. By the time I part with them they have to comply with safety checks, that I have to sign for, so everything has to be thoroughly checked.’
John, who is the warden at Hull Meeting, says that his work reflects his Quaker faith. He said: ‘From an environmental point of view, it saves stuff from going to scrap and it enables us to support the Emmaus project, which deals with people who have found themselves homeless.’
He added: ‘I’ve always had a passion for playing around with bikes. I rebuild them and send them to the Emmaus charity shop. There are two types of bikes: those that are fit for resale and those that have been thrown over hedges or into the river or were ridden to death. These are in a terrible condition.’
Hull Quaker Meeting clerk Jane Harvey agrees with John about the Quaker connection to bike recycling. She said: ‘It’s using something that would be scrap so it helps the environment. Bikes are sold to people who need cheap bikes, people like students and asylum seekers, and the money raised goes towards the funding of the Emmaus community. Some are also sold to Hull Friends.’
Emmaus communities offer homeless people a home, work and the chance to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment. There are currently twenty-two communities in the UK and several more in development.
Jane said that the recycled bikes are ‘selling like hot cakes’. There is even a waiting list for them. While John insists that the venture’s success is down to teamwork at the Hull Meeting, Jane says that it is very much John’s project.
Some of the bikes come from the police because they are unfit for resale. The good bikes are sold at auction.
Jane added: ‘Nothing is wasted. Two local lads call regularly to relieve John of scrap metal components that cannot be recycled thereby helping the lads and the local economy.’
‘We have many enquiries concerning Friends’ beliefs and activities: about the greening of our Meeting house, about the environment, recycling and service to the community. All this stems from John’s dedicated and enthusiastic approach to recycling cycles.’
