End of road? Regent’s Park Estate bike scheme needs cash

Published: 23 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

A BIKE maintenance project set up and run by teenagers on the Regent’s Park Estate and hailed as a resounding success is desperately looking for cash so that it can keep going.

Raqhib Islam and Amir Miah, both 15, have repaired dozens of stolen and lost bikes donated to by police, Safer Neighbourhood teams, council officials and University College London.

Teenagers from  across Camden have gone to their lock-up base in Regent’s Park to learn how to fix the bikes in their spare time, while also gaining official diploma qualifications.

The idea has been so successful that South Camden Community School adopted it.

But a £4,000 donation made by a mystery benefactor responding to a story in the New Journal last September has run out and the boys need help to keep the project running.

Amir said: “What I’ve learned is that I get a real buzz out of working with the community – it’s something I don’t get from school. People of all ages were taking part. 

“I really love bikes anywhere and I cycle to school everyday. There is a real healthy fitness and environmental element to getting more people riding bikes.”

Under the guidance of Surma Centre youth worker Taskin Hudaverdi, teenagers worked in the garage lock-up using the funding to buy parts – brake pads, cables, rims and tyres – to bring bashed-up bikes back into use.

Raqhib said: “I know it sounds a bit corny, but when I fixed a bike up I felt proud – there was a sense of achievement.”

The boys – who have been inspired into politics through the community project and are now youth councillors in Camden – are sitting their GCSEs this year. 

They are hoping to pass over running of the bike scheme to a younger generation. 

Tony Louki, a co-ordinator at the West Euston Partnership (WEP), said: “There has been a huge amount of enthusiasm over this. 

“Everyone that was willing to help rallied round and made it happen. This project really impressed a lot of adults and it’s been a really good community thing. It would be great if there was some more funding.”