RESIDENTS have thrown their money behind a community cycle initiative’s search for a new home.

Windrush Bike Project, which helps volunteers gain skills and confidence through rescuing and refurbishing abandoned bikes, needs £3,000 to upscale from Cogges Manor Farm, Witney, to an industrial unit on Corn Street.

The social enterprise has taught hundreds of schoolchildren and disadvantaged young adults in West Oxfordshire since forming in March 2017, but needs new premises to match its grand plans.

Witney’s cycling fraternity have lent their backing, with 35 donors raising £1,900 via a crowdfunding page in nine days.

The donations prove the project’s value and vindicate the five directors' decision to set up the not-for-profit organisation 18 months ago.

Director Kath Cochrane said: “We knew Witney had space for this.

“You can get to the town centre from anywhere in Witney in 10 minutes by bike and it’s right people should use it for transport.

“It affirms what we thought – it’s taken 18 months of knocking on doors but we’ve got momentum.”

Ms Cochrane, from Leafield, is heavily involved in fundraising and gets paid to run cycle training.

She started teaching children to ride in 2015 and the service eventually became what is now the Windrush Bike Project.

The initiative runs several activities around the central idea of giving volunteers the opportunity to refurbish donated bikes alongside trained mechanics.

Patched-up cycles are either given to those in need or sold to keep the workshop running.

The project reaches out to people from all walks of life, with 13 bikes donated to schoolchildren from low income backgrounds to date.

A 14-year-old boy is its longest-serving volunteer, while the service is also popular with retired people and Syrian refugees.

Ms Cochrane said: “The fact that we take a flexible approach and help people who might be finding life difficult is really appreciated.

“We try to reach out to all those people who might not be comfortable walking into a bike shop.

“Nobody needs to know why people are there, everyone’s treated as people who work on bikes.”

With more than 550 children trained to ride by the project, most Witney residents will know someone affected by its work.

The directors are now hoping their fundraising deadline of September 18 will be met comfortably, with the money paying for tools, utilities and rent contributions.

New premises will help the initiative cater for its more vulnerable clients, stay open longer, run events and provide services such as corporate days and Duke of Edinburgh skills training.

The project has gained a foothold in Witney and Ms Cochrane said she was keen for the cycle revolution to continue.

She said: “Witney’s expanding massively and you can’t have everyone driving into the centre of town.

“We’ve seen how badly that impacts air pollution and we’re passionate the bike has a role to play.”

To donate visit crowdfunder.co.uk/community-bike-workshop