Bike project

SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott is to try and persuade the Scottish government to find more funding for the Shetland Community Bike Project after paying the Commercial Road charity a visit.

The project provides work and training for people with barriers to employment, like drug, alcohol and mental health issues, homelessness and lack of confidence and skills.

Hundreds of bikes, wheelchairs and prams are refurbished and sold through the project – 25.5 tonnes in weight over the past two year alone.

The scheme claims that 90 per cent of participants get employment after a spell there, but more money is needed to fill all the spaces it has capacity for.

Mr Scott said: “The Bike Project does great work in giving many people a new beginning and I want to see that work continue to grow.  Nine out of ten participants move into paid employment after a spell at the Bike Project; that is my definition of success.”