A Renfrew social enterprise is peddling into 2023 thanks to £3,000 grant.
Kustom Kruizers, based at the former public toilets in Robertson Park, was awarded the cash by Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund to continue to engage youngsters in a sustainable mode of transport that bolsters physical and mental wellbeing.
Run by Dave Neill and his wife Rosslyn, Kustom Kruizers offers term-time workshops all year round in partnership with secondary schools across Renfrewshire and beyond.
The pupils involved learn how to strip down, repair, refurbish and rebuild the many donated or unwanted bikes that are handed in.
Once the bikes are restored, they are then sold at greatly reduced prices within the local community.
Dave said: “Our fundamental principle is to take a simple tool – such as a bicycle – and use it to engage with potentially disenfranchised individuals and young people.
“Not only do our workshops bestow practical life skills, they allow members of the community to participate in cycling, an activity that we are deeply enthusiastic about to promote health and wellbeing.
“We passionately believe that working with bikes in a practical, methodical and creative way has life-enhancing benefits for both the local community and individuals.”
He added: “Thanks to the support of the FlightPath Fund, we were able to replenish much needed stock this year in order to have the materials required to refurbish hundreds of bikes and to continue running these valuable workshops.”
Kustom Kruizers gained exclusive access to Renfrewshire Council’s four recycling centres in order to pick up unwanted bikes for refurbishment and also opened up a coffee bar at its base earlier this year.
Dave added: “The majority of these bicycles are in good working order with only minor repairs needed.
“We take these bicycles to our workshop and use them for young people to work on during our programme.
“As a result, there is a reduction in waste metal and rubber, therefore benefitting the environment.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson, who sits on the FlightPath Fund’s committee on behalf of the local authority, said: “I’ve been aware of the fantastic work of Kustom Kruizers for some time and it really is a great example of a community interest
company.
“The FlightPath Fund committee was unanimous in its decision to award such a brilliant example of the type of projects we are keen to support.”
Almost £85,000 has been awarded in 2022 by the FlightPath Fund to help support 64 groups, charities and projects within the communities local to the airport.
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