Glasgow charity raises more than £10,000 in fight to 'survive winter'

Bike for Good, which was founded in 2010, launched a fundraiser earlier this month to raise £15,000 by February 2 as it is under "critical threat".

So far, it has raised more than two-thirds of its target. 

Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

The charity and social enterprise, whose mission is to enable people to ride a bike, has a team of 40 staff and more than 80 volunteers helping cyclists across Glasgow at its three thriving community hubs. 

However, Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet, founder and cycling enthusiast officer (CEO), says the cost-of-living crisis has heavily affected the charity in several ways over the last few months, causing its cash flow to 'plummet'. 

As well as the costs of utilities skyrocketing, it has also been affected by Brexit, high inflation and lower sales in 2022 as the cycling market returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

He explained: "Utilities have increased by 44% this year and for us, because we have training rooms, training facilities, shops, we need to have two huge warehouses and it takes a lot of gas and electricity to heat and to light.

"Most of the cycling market, most of the sales in the UK, are back down to pre-pandemic levels, so that’s affecting us as well.

"There was a boom of cycling but it went back to two years before."

He continued: "We’ve been really, really impacted [by the cost-of-living crisis].

"We try to make cycling affordable, our beneficiaries are often on a low income or our target market is people who can’t really afford to ride a bike, so how do we keep them cycling if cycling is becoming more expensive?

"All charities have to take the heat but it's impacting lots of our services."

As well as selling refurbished bikes, the charity also offers cycling lessons, servicing and repairs and a Fix Your Own Bike workshop where people can learn to repair their bike using refurbished parts, and have access to tools and mechanics who can help. 

Gregory added: "These types of services we can't really afford anymore, so we need to find solutions and we need to keep them going.

"I'm sure we'll make it to the other side but we really need some help."

And while the charity supports those who want to cycle, its vision is that it can continue to do its work so everyone in Glasgow benefits from cycling, whether they ride a bike or not.

Gregory said: "Our vision is a place where everybody benefits from cycling.

"For us, when we say for everyone in the community, it doesn’t mean only the people who ride a bike.

"Because if you have more cyclists, you have less cars, less pollution.

"It’s even better for the driver – in cities where there are more cycling lanes, they get less stuck in traffic.

"So the more bikes, it benefits everyone in the community, not only the cyclists.

"If you don’t ride a bike because you can’t ride a bike for any reason, you’d be happier to walk in the street where cyclists are passing by rather than just cars."

As well as refurbished bikes, Bike for Good also sells brand-new helmets, locks, tyres and other accessories. 

All donations to Bike for Good are being matched by the Glasgow Community Climate Action Fund. 

The charity's Glasgow West Community Hub is located at 65 Haugh Road, while Bike for Good Glasgow South is located at 539 Victoria Road.

You can view the Crowdfunder HERE.