A Bath charity is launching a brand new e-bike scheme for tourists which will raise vital cash to reduce homelessness and tackle long-term unemployment.
Thanks to a grant from the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, the Julian House Bike Workshop is investing in a fleet of e-bikes which they will rent out to tourists visiting the city.
Rod Standing the workshop manager will explain to Mayor Dan Norris how many people visiting Bath want to see the locations from Netflix’s Bridgerton and are disappointed to find it is spread out across the city – so an ebike is a great way to take in all the sights.
The money raised will be a new source of income for the charity Julian House. It will supplement the vital cash raised from their Bike Workshop’s core model of stripping down and rebuilding donated bikes and enable them to change more people’s lives offering support for homelessness, domestic abuse and addiction.
Meanwhile there will also be additional training and workplace experience on e-bikes for those working in the Bike Workshop who often have a background of homelessness or long-term unemployment.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “What a great way to whizz around the city! I know lockdown has presented some challenges, not least that sourcing bikes of any type suddenly became so tough due to a spike in demand. This new tourism venture is an excellent plan. It is also good to meet the team here today to hear about the amazing work they do building, repairing, servicing and selling bikes which provides a huge range of opportunities for vulnerable people to get involved. I know they really help to turn people’s lives around.”