British Transport Police joins forces with charity to turn abandoned bikes into business

Monday, 26 October 2020 16:35

Abandoned bikes left at railway stations in Cheshire are being donated to charity thanks to the efforts of a British Transport Police PCSO.

Each year thousands of abandoned bikes pass through the hands of British Transport Police.

Now, PCSO Thomas Gilmour, based at Manchester Piccadilly, has come up with a novel idea to ensure someone else’s trash becomes treasure for one of the world’s poorest communities.

Every abandoned bike is examined with a UV torch by PCSO Gilmour and the team, and checked against the Bike Register database.

When the bikes cannot be traced they are kept for 90 days and then, thanks to the efforts of PSCO Gilmour, who has set up agreements with Network Rail at Manchester Piccadilly and Avanti West Coast at Macclesfield station, they are donated to the Stoke-on-Trent-based charity, CycleofGood.

The bikes are shipped to Blantyre in Malawi to an organisation called Beebikes Africa, where they are refurbished by local workers – providing them with jobs and training – before being sold on. In cases where the bikes aren’t sold, they are instead recycled – the inner tubes are transformed into wallets and phone cases by a team of tailors employed by the charity. The products are then sold globally via the charity’s website. The money generated builds schools in Malawi and provides paid employment for the people who refurbish the bike and make the wallets.

PCSO Gilmour said: “We get hundreds of bikes left unclaimed at stations – some of these are in perfect working order. We do a thorough check of the bike to try to trace the owner and if that fails we hang onto it for 90 days and continue to check any late reports. When all attempts to reunite the bike with its owner have been exhausted then we contact CycleofGood who turn the unwanted into a valuable resource.

“The benefits of the scheme are twofold - the unwanted bike and its parts are recycled and not trashed plus it provides opportunities and income for people in Malawi.”

Zoe Kasiya, operations manager at CycleofGood said: “In Malawi owning a bike transforms lives, helping to set up businesses or get children to school. A bike to a Malawian is like a car.

“This money generated from the bikes also helps build schools and the donated bikes themselves transport goods from place to place. We also train people as bike mechanics so they can learn a trade and earn money for a more sustainable future.

“Thank you to everyone involved in recycling your bikes through British Transport Police - you are helping to secure employment in Malawi and fund childcare for vulnerable children.”

PCSO Gilmour added: “You should always make sure your bike is security marked and registered with BikeRegister. We run regular bike marking events at stations where commuters can get their bikes marked and registered for free. Follow @BTPGtrMcr to find out the next date in the Manchester area.”

Learn more about the social enterprise schemes at cycleofgood.com

More from Local News

Cheshire’s Museum of Policing receives King’s Award for Voluntary Service

The prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service has been presented to Cheshire’s Museum of Policing.
Constabulary intensifying efforts regarding the sale of knives during week-long operation

Cheshire Police is running is week-long operation focusing on the sale of illegal blades as part of ongoing work to keep knives off our streets.
Man handed CBO following shoplifting and vehicle interference

A prolific shoplifter from Crewe has been banned from several stores in the town after officers were successful in securing a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
Appeal for witnesses following fatal collision in Sandbach

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a fatal collision in Sandbach.
Operation Crossbow targets wanted criminals across the county

Over 20 criminals wanted for numerous offences have been arrested during a day of intensified police action across Cheshire.
Swim sessions available for users with vision impairments at Brio Northwich

Brio continues their collaboration with regional charity Vision Support to offer a dedicated swim session for people with a vision impairment at Brio Northwich.
Macclesfield Youth Brass Band Receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Macclesfield Youth Brass Band (MYBB), a volunteer led organisation, has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.
Connecting Chelford receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Connecting Chelford, a group of volunteers based in Chelford, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.
Ofsted recognise ‘a level of optimism and confidence’ in Cheshire East children’s services

Cheshire East Council has welcomed positive feedback from Ofsted following its latest monitoring visit to children’s services, which found “a level of optimism and confidence across the workforce that things are getting better” after last year’s inadequate inspection judgement.
New housing charter for care leavers launched as council celebrates Care Leavers’ Month

Video

Cheshire East Council has launched a new housing charter for care leavers aged 16–25, developed in close partnership with local housing providers.
King’s Shoots and Scores on International and National Courts

King’s School Macclesfield has announced an impressive number of netball representative honours, including National, Superleague and County, awarded to senior school players from across several year groups.
Shadow artworks to be created to raise awareness of men’s mental health

Men in Northwich and Ellesmere Port are invited to join a powerful art project to reduce the stigma of asking for help when they are in crisis or experiencing difficult life events.
Prolific burglar jailed for Northwich crime spree

Video

A prolific burglar from Manchester has been jailed for eight years following a nine-month crime spree across the wider Northwich area.
Two men charged with Macclesfield burglary

Officers investigating a burglary in Macclesfield have charged two men from Greater Manchester.
Congleton Unites in Record Numbers for Remembrance

Crowds of proud onlookers lined the streets of Congleton on Sunday to pay their respects as the town came together for the annual Remembrance Parade and Service at the Cenotaph on Lawton Street.
Public urged to help find wanted man Lee Scanlon

The independent charity, Crimestoppers, is offering a reward of up to £2,000 for information leading to the arrest of 40-year-old Lee Scanlon, who is wanted on suspicion of harassment and witness intimidation.
Image released following distraction theft in Crewe

Officers investigating a theft at a shop in Crewe have released an image of a man they would like to speak to.
Northwich man jailed for assaulting ex-partner

A man from Northwich has been jailed after he was convicted of assaulting his former partner.
Congleton Town Council is speaking up for women and girls

Congleton Town Council’s White Ribbon Group is preparing to speak up to end violence against women and girls for the annual ’16 days of activism’ starting on White Ribbon Day, 25th November, and ending on International Human Rights Day, 10th December.
Man jailed following Northwich ram raid

Video

A man who ram raided a convenience store in Northwich and stole more than £3,000 has been jailed.