The latest project from the Equal Programme is the Equal Community Bike Scheme.
Equal work with those with long term health conditions which prevents them moving forward into employment.
The Equal Programme is a supported employment service that guides people across North Ayrshire into work and training. It comes under the banner of North Ayrshire Council’s employability service’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme. And it offers a wide range of tailored support to get people back into work, start work for the first time or take a step up the career ladder.
Programme Manager, Linda Ford shares: “This project allows for intensive cycle maintenance training for a group of our participants who will all gain Velotech Cycle Maintenance Qualifications and SQA accreditation for Customer Service and Responsibilities of Employment.
“The trainees will refurbish old unwanted cycles bringing them back to roadworthy condition and the cycles will then be offered, free of charge, to members of our community who cannot afford to buy a new cycle. These can be used for leisure, for getting to and from school or work, and will hopefully help encourage a healthy lifestyle.
“But, we need your help – the team need your bike donations! If you have an old bike that you no longer use and you’d like to donate please contact us now and we can arrange collection.”