Community Bikes Phil’s Story

Life before community was basically work, being away from home quite a bit, away from the family and travelling all across Europe. I worked as a mechanical engineer and then later as a supplier quality assurance manager for a large manufacturing company for over 45 years.

In March 2020, I took the opportunity to retire early to help manage a medical condition and to do the things I wanted to do. I always knew I wanted to do something to give back, either fostering or something community based.

I got in touch with Shared Lives at Wigan Council and started supporting a 55 year old nonverbal man with learning difficulties one day a week.

He’s now like an extended part of the family and gets involved in the bedlam that is my family. He also is interested in mechanical things, so we get on well, he’s got a wicked sense of humour, and we potter about together once a week.

I got involved initially with the community group because I have a VW transporter which is quite a useful tool.

My daughter was involved in setting up the pantry at Delph Street, and she asked if I could help pick up some food. Somehow I ended up on a stall at the pantry, and things have just grown from there.

This all coincided with covid and people were struggling with either loneliness, fear or bereavement, so it was nice to get to know people.

When the pantry closed last year, it was important that there was somewhere for the people who connected there to still have somewhere to go on Monday afternoons, so we spoke to the Hen Hole, and we’ve been meeting there on a Monday ever since, having a brew together and some cakes or biscuits that people bring.

Around April last year, the community group got a delivery from FSC at the recycling centre, which included some bikes, and I started to get them ready for riding. Changing the brake cables, oiling up the chain etc.

I contacted Simon at Gearing up at the Brick for some advice and discovered there’s a hierarchy of unused and unloved bikes. It frustrated the life out of me that all these bikes are just being thrown away.

I absolutely loved being on a bike when I was little, and I think all children should have access to a bike.

We live in a bit of a throwaway society now, and it seems a real shame to just discard, especially when they are really wellengineered and they could bring real pleasure to someone.

Lots of them have loads of life left in them and are just outgrown, getting rusty in gardens.

We’re now getting better products from this hierarchy which results in better bikes for our community.

If we can get them back to being used for donations, it’s much better than them being sent to China to become part of a washing machine.

It’s nice to see people in the community, and I’m getting a bit of a reputation now that I can fix bikes. To see them using them makes me smile. We have a service that can fix bikes and refurbish decent-quality bikes that have been outgrown.

The bikes that are from about 5 years upwards are probably the most suitable bikes to be refurbished and re-distributed around the community.

If people have the skills, space, and time to help out, that would be great because it can get overwhelming with the demand, help would be very welcome.

Contact Phil 07305 038456

2 Party Invitations

The results of the community survey we did last year told us that we want to party more in this community.

So here’s two for you.

Coronation Party

12-3pm at Diggle St Park on Sunday 7th May

Bring a picnic and a chair, or a blanket. Some seating will be available for people unable to carry a chair.

There’ll be entertainment, singing and the bubble lady will be entertaining the children.

Community Party

12-3pm at St Anne's Community Centre on Saturday 13th May

Bring a picnic and a chair, or a blanket. Some seating will be available for people unable to carry a chair.

There’ll be music, food and fun and an opportunity to find out more about the community group and who is involved.