A Glasgow-based charity is supporting people with mental illness to learn new skills, while restoring an old bike into something they can literally ride away and keep.

Michael McEwan spoke with participants and the volunteering coordinator at Common Wheel’s ‘Build Your Own Bike’ (BYOB) project to find out more about how the charity is working to improve mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and challenge stigma.

The ‘Build Your Own Bike’ (BYOB) project lets people pick a bike, take it apart, rebuild it with new parts as needed and keep it at the end.

In 1997 the basic concept of bicycle recycling as occupational therapy was developed. Shortly after in 1999, with the support of Glasgow City Council, Common Wheel secured its first bike workshop in Maryhill. A second workshop opened in Bridgeton in 2006.

Though the bike is the objective, it's not the only benefit of the class, according to Heather Brown the BYOP Participation and Volunteering Coordinator.

She says: “The feedback we get from participants is that getting a bike at the end is obviously great but they get a lot more out of the course than just the bike. The course gives participants confidence, motivation, time-keeping skills and simply something to talk about with others. Some participants do show an interest and passion for bike mechanics and are offered the opportunity to work at our bike workshops after they have completed the course.”

Each session members has the satisfaction of achieving a task closer to a complete working bike. The team oversee a very hands on approach, with technical support. No real skill is needed, as long as everyone is up for giving it a go.

At the end of the class everyone will have a bike that fits and works. Even for those not into bikes can benefit if they just fancy doing something completely different and meeting new people.

BYOB also take donations, which they can use for their build course, or to recondition and sell on to members of the public with help from volunteers.

One participant of BYOB said they thoroughly enjoyed the course and it had a real impact on their wellbeing:  "A great feeling of self-satisfaction and achievement after each session. My confidence has improved greatly"

His wife agreed: "It has given him some confidence learning skills that won’t be wasted and he is bursting with pride showing anyone who will listen that this is the bike he built himself and what a great experience it was."

Another BYOB volunteer shared: “I enjoy coming here and I'm quite hands-on so that kind of helps me get through the day. Helps me get through the week actually to be honest.”

 

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