Stolen bikes have been given a new lease of life as they’re gifted to complex need youths, who will use them to learn valuable life skills.
Eleven unclaimed bikes that have been recovered by police across Sheffield have been donated to a local charitable trust, Ruskin Mill Trust, which supports children and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Bethan Davies, Fundraiser for the trust said: “We’re really excited about taking these bikes back with us to their new home.
It is great to repurpose something old into something that will be appreciated by our students. This collaborative project helps both the bikes and our students reach their potential. A big thanks to the South Yorkshire Police!”
The bikes which have been left unclaimed in South Yorkshire police property storage are going to help support young people to develop vocational and practical skills at Ruskin Mill’s two Sheffield sites; Brantwood Specialist School and Freeman College.
The trust started in the early 1980s and now has schools, colleges and residential centres across the country. They provide specialist independent education to help those with complex needs overcome the barriers to learning that they face.
They use an unique method of practical skills therapeutic education for working with young people from the age of 6-25 who have complex behaviour and learning difficulties and disabilities.
Bethan Davies said: “These bikes will be brilliant for our students, as they’ll be learning bike repair skills, as well as gaining confidence for cycling both road and mountain bikes.”
The bikes have come from a variety of sources, some have been abandoned by offenders whilst others have been stolen then since recovered during police searches. They have been available to claim for a series of months prior to their donation to the trust.
