The Y gives Goldfields school kids a boost with recycled bikes

Youth workers at the Y Goldfields have been keeping busy every Friday this year as they recycle and repair bikes donated by Bicycles for Humanity WA (B4HWA).

The outreach program, which began at the beginning of 2022, has been successfully engaging, connecting and giving back to local youth and the community for the past two years.

So far, B4HWA has donated more than 450 bicycles to the youth organisation. Northern Star also donated $10,000 to B4HWA, covering the costs of delivery and a sea container, which resulted in the Y Goldfields repairing and rehoming more than 250 bikes.

CEO of The Y WA, Dr Tim McDonald, said, “Programs like these in our regional centres offer positive outcomes for everyone. The children are engaged, learning new things, and completing meaningful work. They get the chance to think about gifting the bikes to people in the community, taking ownership of what they have achieved and making positive contributions to their region.”

Just in time for Christmas, the group donned festive gear and spread some Christmas magic as they donated repaired bicycles to the Coolgardie community in December.

Young people in the program are given two bikes which they are taught to repair over the course of the term.

They then have the option to donate one and keep one for themselves, with many choosing to donate both as they sign up for the program for a second or third time.

Bikes are donated to several local community groups, including the Goldfields Youth Justice Services, offering bikes to young people to assist them to get to job interviews, school or work.

The reused bikes are also donated to the Goldfields Women’s Refuge, Finlayson House, after a youth participant had a family member use the support service.

Communities in Kambalda and Laverton received donations, with schools reporting greater school attendance as a direct result of bike donations.

Youth worker TJ Masters, new to the Y Goldfields team and leading the repairs, said, “The program is an excellent opportunity for youth to learn new skills while doing something good for the local community. It just keeps rotating as we continue to fix them over the course of the term and then head out with our trailer to deliver them to those in need. We are getting through around 12 bikes a month.”

The program runs every Friday for ten weeks during the school term and has seen consistent participation, with up to 10 or more young individuals attending weekly. 

Youth participants are from a mix of local schools including Fairbridge College, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High, Eastern Goldfields College, John Paul College, and Goldfields Baptist College.

Local youth Abigail Pitt and young 11-year-old Douglas Petersen have been part of the program since the beginning and donated around six of their bikes to the local women’s shelter, Step Up Step Down, and the Department of Communities. Abigail and Douglas both said they like giving back to the community and helping other youth.

The program has been so successful that the Y Goldfields will run two workshops in Laverton and Coolgardie over the January 2024 school holidays, before kicking off again for Term 1 2024 every Friday from 3-6pm.

For more information or to take part in the program contact the Y Goldfields on (08) 9021 1035.