LNER Helps North East Bike Charity Gear Up for Good
A Newcastle bicycle recycling charity has received a boost thanks to funding from the LNER Customer and Community Investment Fund.
Recyke y’Bike, based in Byker, refurbishes donated bikes that would otherwise go to landfill and redistributes them locally. Last year alone, the charity received 3,500 bikes to restore and put back to good use.
Established in 2006, Recyke y’Bike promotes the physical, mental and economic benefits of cycling, giving people access to an affordable and sustainable mode of transport. The team also teaches essential maintenance skills, helping people keep their bikes safe and roadworthy.
A short film shared by LNER spotlights two of the charity’s projects that benefited from the funding. The Bike MOT scheme offers free repairs to local people, while the Supported Volunteer Scheme provides refugees and asylum seekers with the chance to learn new skills, build confidence and make connections. As part of the scheme, volunteers learn how to build their own bike from scratch.
The funding from LNER also enabled the charity to buy a set of high‑quality tools, allowing the volunteer team to build 300 children’s bikes.
Fran Welsh, Charitable Operations Manager at Recyke y’Bike, said: “A bike is not just a form of transport – it can be a transformative tool. Cycling builds independence, confidence, and connection, plus being an environmentally friendly way to travel. Our free bike MOT workshops help to make sure people stay safe and mobile, while our Supported Volunteers Scheme gives people the opportunity to gain a qualification. Our involvement doesn’t end when people receive a bike or training from us, they become part of our community which provides ongoing support for as long as it’s needed.”
Mottasem, a participant in the Supported Volunteering Scheme, said: “It’s very important to me that I am here, being active and meeting people. I plan to go to college, so having a bike will make life easier. It’s amazing working with all the friendly people here.”
Rachael Wilson, Community Investment Manager for LNER, said: “LNER is proud to support the transformational work that Recyke y’Bike carries out. The team is not only giving bikes a second life but also giving people new opportunities. Whether it’s teaching young people transferable skills, helping refugees and asylum seekers to feel connected, or supporting women to learn to ride and maintain their bikes, the charity is making a real difference.”