News

OPENING OF COMMUNITY CAN CYCLE'S WORKSHOP

(This article originally appeared on the website Of Castlemilk Economic Development Agency)

A great family fun day and launch of Community Can Cycle's workshop took place on Glasgow Fair Saturday in brilliant sunshine. Around 500 people enjoyed the event which was supported by Castlemilk Churches Together, CEDA. and Alupro.

Community Can Cycle is a community enterprise which sells quality bikes from as little as £10 so that people don't need to put themselves into debt to buy one - especially at Christmas time. Funding from recycling aluminium cans and glass bottles helps the charity repair bikes for Castlemilk kids for nothing. A workshop at Block C in Glenwood Business Park is where the bikes are created - usually out of old or broken bikes which have been donated to CCC.

And it was this workshop which was formally opened on the Fun Day. Jonathan Coburn of CEDA was thanked by CCC at the event for his help in developing their business plan and helping them secure a Community Fund Lottery Grant. The £57,000 enables the charity to employ three people and train 12 volunteers in a sheltered environment.

Local kids with Alupro's Cat and April Gordon and Jim O'Donnell of Community Can Cycle outside the workshop. The bike in the picture is one of the ones available from the charity which recycles drinks cans and glass bottles as well as bikes.

Local minister John Miller of Castlemilk East Church of Scotland (pictured centre) is a committed cyclist who normally uses that mode of transport to get round his parish. With him are Sister Margareta (left) from Shoenstatt Community, Campsie Glen who uses a bicycle with a special safety net to prevent the skirt of her nun's habit from getting tangled in the wheels. And Sister Jacinta of St Peter Claver who is also keen on cycling.

Community Can Cycle's recycling officer Michael Haggerty (Right) which his wife Irene Haggerty and daughter Rosemarie and volunteer Allan Walls. The project supports 3 full time posts and provides training for 12 volunteers in a supported environment.

The bouncy castle was one of the major attractions on the open day along with face painting and other entertainment for children provided by the Jeelie Piece Club and Toadabout for Kids. Coca-Cola's hoopla, the Daily Record Roadshow and the army's tents which sheltered the tea stall and café areas were among other attractions. The Fire Brigade gave a demonstration to show what happens when a chip pan goes on fire.

Photos by courtesy of Alupro and the Local News for Southsiders.