How I became a volunteer:
My professional offshore engineering life was coming to an end, and I needed to keep busy physically and mentally as I retired.
At my last Charity where I volunteered I met Johnny Johnstone who volunteered for Re-cycle, Bikes for Africa. As he described Re-Cycle to me the charity appealed to me, particularly their modus operandi. I joined in 2015 and have been volunteering ever since, normally on Tuesdays.
What I do at the Charity:
As a warehouse volunteer, I prepare bikes for the containers, making them compact enough to maximise on the number of bikes that can be fitted into a shipping container. I also help carefully strip bikes that can’t be reused for parts or saleable aluminium.
I have developed many skills at the charity, so I can undertake most assigned tasks. Not only does this benefit the charity but I also learn something about myself, working with others of very different backgrounds and abilities.
I try to imagine the sheer joy young African people have, when on receipt of a Re-Cycle container full of bikes in their country, that we have prepared for them. It is perverse that our cast offs hugely benefit others in a different continent.
What for the Future:
I shall continue to Volunteer at the Charity and assist, where practical, the Management Team to develop the organisation. This could be done by offering skills and ideas, to further fundraising and improvements to the charity. The charity sector has it challenges and therefore all of our efforts are required to stave off these challenges, to maintain our key position.
The benefits are the African recipients of the bicycles, of whom they are eternally grateful, and it is our pleasure to provide.
Read more about supporting Re-Cycle HERE
