Pedal power makes refugees welcome
THE city centre community has rallied together to pr ovide bic y cle s for refugees and asylum seekers living in Glasgow. The Refugees in Glasgow Bike Appeal was launched in the city by housing and human rights charity Positive Action in Housing and Go- Where Scotland after the tragic incident at the Park Inn Hotel in June.
The aim of the initiative is to give freedom and independence refugees and asylum seekers who would otherwise struggle financially to access transport.
Since its launch in July, organisations and businesses such as SocialBite, Bern UK and BikeLove have generously contributed to the cause.
Co- partner of Go- Where Scotland, Aneela McKenna, said: “We wanted to provide support for the refugees who were moving out of their hotels and into the outskirts of Glasgow after the tragic incident at the Park Inn Hotel.
“We wanted to be able to give them more independence to allow them to travel freely because the fact is, they don’t have the money to travel. They’re only given daily bus passes so there is no money for them to travel around freely. The whole point of this project is to be able to give them one more step to independence.”
A total of 25 bikes, locks and helmets have been given to those in need, but 60 names have so far been put forward to receive the donations.
Bicycles given by members of the public and other organisations have been been described as a “lifeline” for the recipients as the new mode of transport allows them to attend doctors appointments, access open spaces and see friends and family at no additional cost.
Aneela added: “If you can donate whatever you can, you will be providing a lifeline for somebody who would have otherwise not had that. It would give somebody their freedom and independence back.
“You wouldn’t believe the joy that a human being can get from riding a bicycle and we’ve seen that from the people who have received a bike so far. You’d be doing something good by giving somebody who doesn’t have access to transport the opportunity to get to green space and move around freely.”
To donate to the Refugees in Glasgow Bike Appeal, email home@ positiveactionh. org.
It is to give them freedom