Somerset-based charity, On Your Bike, are celebrating after receiving £2,220 from Somerset Community Foundation, thanks to generous contributions from property development company, Summerfield, and law firm, Clarke Willmott.
On Your Bike are a charity helping young people, the socially underprivileged, long-term unemployed, ex-servicemen and the homeless throughout Somerset. Since the charity was set up in 2012, they have recycled over 1,600 bikes for re-sale, all of which have been donated, sold or saved from landfill. In the process, they have delivered over 2,400 hours of training to 55 individuals and have helped 14 people gain employment, including five with National Standards Qualifications.
Deputy Chief Executive of Somerset Community Foundation, Mary Hancock, says: “On Your Bike are extremely grateful for the £2,220 donation to their project, which wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our endowment fund holders. Summerfield and Clarke Willmott have given generously to a whole range of community projects in Somerset.”
The £2,220 award to On Your Bike will allow the charity to engage with, and support, a further six individuals over the next 12 months. The training provided enables beneficiaries to work towards, and achieve, the industry-standard qualification, Cy-tech level one or two. The charity will also be building an additional two workstations to enable them to train and support more people around the Taunton area.
Somerset Community Foundation were able to facilitate the grant to the charity after releasing funds from Summerfield’s and Clarke Willmott’s endowments.
Chris Winter, Managing Director of Summerfield, was happy to help: “Charitable giving is a big part of what we do at Summerfield; we always like to support projects in and around Somerset that are helping to strengthen the communities in which we live. On Your Bike are doing a great job of supporting local people and Summerfield is delighted to help with this latest donation.”
