The great cycle recycle

This Circular Economy Week (20 to 26 October), learn about Barnes Charity Bike Sale, an inspiring initiative that gives pre-loved bikes a second life while bringing the community together.

The Barnes Charity Bike Sale is now something of an institution locally, and a perfect recycling project. Throughout the summer, pre-loved bikes of varying makes, models and ages are donated, or offered for sale in return for a share of the proceeds. All the bikes are checked and spruced up by a team of enthusiastic volunteers before being offered for sale on a Saturday morning in September at St Mary’s Church, SW13.

The annual event is so popular that the queue for the best bikes often starts by 7.30am and stretches all the way back to the Olympic cinema. As one happy customer put it ‘that’s quite a show you put on here’. In the first hour of the sale, we sell two bikes every minute. This year we raised £20,000 from the sale of 200 bikes, with the proceeds split between local charities and St Mary’s Church. 

The team of around 35 volunteers includes mechanics who make sure the bikes are roadworthy, the admin angels who run the show and manage the publicity, finance and organisation, and other willing helpers who are happy to clean the bikes when they come in. Our oldest volunteer is in her 90’s, and the youngest still a teenager.

As one of our mechanics said: "There’s something really special about taking an unwanted bike, giving it a little TLC and watching it roll out to a new home." 

One of the admin team commented: "We are very lucky to be able to use the church facilities to receive the bikes and sell them there on sale day. It is a wonderful community initiative and brings all sorts of people together, as well as raising money for good causes and giving people the opportunity to snap up a bargain." 

Over the past eighteen years we have recycled over 2,500 bikes and the sale has raised over £177,000.  It is a great example of recycling for a good cause and people love it.

You can find out more at www.barnescharitybikesale.co.uk or follow @barnescharitybikesale on Instagram. 

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