Belvoir Bikeshed – a dream realised
A dream has been realised with the grand opening of Belvoir Bikeshed in the grounds of Belvoir Parish Church.
The new bikeshed is the fruit of a partnership between Belvoir Parish, The Church of Ireland Priorities Fund and All Nations Ministries. All Nations Ministries was founded by Belvoir parishioner David Maganda, and supports asylum seekers and refugees who have come to Belfast.
The workshop receives, stores and up–cycles bicycles that are no longer wanted or needed. At the workshop the team carry out a recorded assessment on the condition of each bicycle and where possible within a limited budget, service and repair them so they can be moved on and given to a new owner. Not only does this provide someone with much needed transport but it also reduces waste.
Access to a bicycle has proved to be lifechanging for members of the refugee/asylum seeker and local Belvoir communities. The 150th bicycle will soon leave the workshop to be given to a family or individual, allowing them the independence to travel and interact with local people and with community groups, services, and amenities.
Retired engineer Carson Bell had the vision for a bicycle repair and recycling project in 2019. The workshop had its first home in Newforge Lane, Belfast and in 2021 the project moved to rooms at Belvoir Parish Church. Now the dream of a fully dedicated space has been realised.
Most of the work is done by Carson along with Andy Panayotou, a retired physics teacher. In addition, All Nations volunteers are trained in the skills of assessing bicycle condition, documenting repairs necessary, scheduling of repair work, managing time and priorities, meeting goals, achieving deadlines and an understanding of assessing/mitigating personal risk and risk to others within a workshop environment. They also receive training in practical skills such as the use of hand tools used for the repair programme, the use of basic power tools, the need for a disciplined and positive attitude and an essential understanding of health and safety.
Anne Graham works for Migrant Help, an organisation which supports the victims of human trafficking. Over the past two years in excess of 340 people have needed their help.
Anne said: “The people we support are indebted to the bikes because most of them have enrolled in Belfast Met for English classes and it allows them to attend the college. Everybody knows about the bikes and everybody knows Carson!”
DUP Councillor, Sarah Bunting was given the honour of cutting the ribbon whilst Belvoir rector, Revd Adrian McCartney, said that the bikeshed was ‘dedicated to those outside the church for whom we exist and whom we have yet to meet.”
Pictured above from L–R: Revd Adrian McCartney, Cllr Sarah Bunting, Andy Panayotou, Carson Bell and David Maganda
