Care leavers given bikes to aid independence

The Commissioner’s Youth and Community Fund awarded £3,000 funding to Cambridgeshire County Council to provide support to young adults leaving the Care System beginning to live life independently.

These funds will be used to purchase bicycles so that these young adults can access work, further education or training.

Leaving care at 18 can be an extremely intimidating experience for young people and has been even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the provision of these bikes has eased this difficult transition, made more challenging during lockdown.

One care leaver, who has previously benefitted from the project, describes how the provision of a bike made being a care leaver during lockdown easier.

Struggling to be stuck at home, taking on the challenge of learning to ride a bike provided a welcome distraction for this care leaver.

Previously, she had never ridden a bike before as girls in Afghanistan are not permitted to do so.

The provision of the bikes allowed her to get out and exercise during the lockdown, being taught to ride a bike from a friend in the same accommodation, allowing for some much-needed freedom during an incredibly difficult time.

As restrictions have eased, they have been able to continue using the bike to help with their independence and the transition of leaving care: using it to complete shopping and allowing them to get to and from college.

Ray Bisby, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said:“As someone who has dealt closely with the care system myself, this is a project that is particularly close to my heart.

“For a young care leaver with limited access to affordable transport, physically accessing work and education can be difficult. I am pleased to be able to use my Youth and Community Fund to supply care leavers with bikes which help break the barriers to their future.”

Cllr Simon Bywater, Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People Committee said: “For care leavers, moving into adulthood can be a particularly difficult transition and with the added stress and complications of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we do what we can to support them as they begin to live independently.

“With this funding we will be able to secure bicycles for our care leavers, alongside the appropriate equipment such as helmets, bike locks and lights.

“This project allows us to work with care leaves to ensure obstacles preventing access to education, employment or training are minimised whilst simultaneously helping them improve their health and wellbeing.