AN INNOVATIVE free community bike project will teach young people bicycle maintenance skills – with participants being given their rebuilt bike to keep at the end of the six-week course.

The new scheme – Warrington Community Bike Project - is a first for the borough and recently got underway following a £3,500 grant from the Cheshire police and crime commissioner David Keane.

The project is a partnership between LiveWire, Warrington Police and Cycling Projects – a Warrington-based charity enabling all to be active regardless of ability through the mode of cycling.

The project aims to help build community cohesion, promote cycling as a form of getting active and to reduce anti-social behaviour.

It will see selected participants renovate and repair a reclaimed bike over a six week period, under the guidance of expert technicians. At the end of the project they will get to keep the bikes and receive a certificate of attendance

Warrington Bike Project launched recently in Orford Park with a small group of pupils from Culcheth High School.

Paul Flannery, LiveWire’s community sports development officer, said: “We are extremely excited to launch the pilot scheme of this innovative new project that could have a real impact on the people taking part. The first of its kind in Warrington, we look forward to working with the young people taking part over the next six weeks, and seeing them learn new skills.

“There will be lots of developments with the project in the New Year and we hope to engage a wide cross section of the community through bike maintenance and cycling initiatives.

“Thank you to the police and crime commissioner’s Safer Communities Fund for the funding grant.”

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “I’m proud to support this project with funding from my Safer Communities Fund. The fund empowers people, providing support to community groups that protect the vulnerable and work to prevent crime and anti-sociable behaviour.

“This project will not only encourage community cohesion and support more people in the community to become active through cycling, it will also give those who may have been involved in anti-social behaviour a focus by providing them with disused bikes to regenerate.

“I look forward to seeing how this scheme benefits the whole community.”

In 2020 the partnership hopes to expand on the pilot scheme to including bicycle maintenance qualifications and drop-in sessions and wider family cycling initiatives and cycling safety.

Ian Tierney, charity director of Cycling Projects, said: “The community bike project will be great for the community. Not only will people learn about bike maintenance, but they will also be able to engage in other cycling initiatives that promote physical and mental wellbeing.”