On yer bike: the charity project helping London refugees get around the city

London based charity The Bike Project helps refugees find their feet

The UN Refugee Agency

Bianca Barratt20 June 2017

Although the London transport system is undeniably one of the best in the world, it comes at a high price and many struggle to meet the cost of using it- particularly refugees, who come to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs.

In those crucial first few weeks, the need to find homes and jobs is paramount, but can often be made more difficult by the expense of travel.

In a bid to combat this issue, a team of bikers and volunteers decided to launch The Bike Project- an initiative which refurbishes second hand bikes to donate to refugees and asylum-seekers in need of quick transportation.

The founder, Jem Stein, was inspired to kick-start the campaign when he found out that a refugee he was mentoring whilst at university only had £36 per week to live on.

By re-purposing forgotten and unused bikes and then giving guidance on how to use and maintain them, the project is able to offer people in need more independence and vital access to much needed services like schools, hospitals, lawyers and job centres.

Stein said, “asylum seekers come to this country with nothing… a bike can help these people reach the many resources that London has to offer.”