Funding boost for I Am Bikes charity

The group was among the first batch of charities to receive financial grants from the ScotRail Foundation, which was set-up in May 2013 to support community groups.

I Am Bikes will use the money to help it meet the costs of setting up a community cycling hub and cafe in Cumbernauld.

The group, set up in 2012, already recycles and refurbishes bikes, runs maintenance classes and encourages people, particularly children, to get involved in cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle.

I Am Bikes also delivers training courses for unemployed young people to give them the skills and confidence to help them into work.

Angela Fitzsimons, founder of I Am Bikes, said: “This support from the ScotRail Foundation could not come at a better time as it will allow us to get our new cycling hub and cafe opened in the next couple of weeks. It will provide a meeting point for local people and be the base for our new community cycling club. We get a lot of people coming to us who want to get back on their bike but just lack the confidence and knowledge to do so, that’s where we can help. Applying to the ScotRail Foundation is very straightforward and didn’t take long to complete. I would certainly recommend making an application to any other community group looking to secure additional help.”

The deadline for the next round of applications is Friday, January 17 and for more www.foundationscotland.org.uk/scotrail.