The refugees giving back to community bike scheme

A refugee who came to the UK from Afghanistan has told how a community bike project helped him find his independence - so much so he has joined the scheme as a volunteer.

Saifullah Ahmadzai arrived in the UK nearly two years ago, after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, and settled in South Yorkshire.

The 23-year-old was offered a bike by the Barnsley Refugee Bike Project, which he uses to attended college and his cricket club.

Mr Ahmadzai said he hoped that by volunteering he could learn new skills and help other refugees, and project founder Alex Simons said Mr Ahmadzai had become an "integral" member of the team.

Mr Ahmadzai told the BBC his journey to the UK took him nearly three years. He walked most of the way before crossing the Channel to the UK.

He lived with other refugees in Calais for six months before making the journey.

"There were 65 people on a 30ft (9m) boat," Mr Ahmadzai said.

The excessive weight of passengers caused the boat to capsize, killing 10 of the refugees onboard including two close friends, he said.

They spent two hours in the water before being rescued by the UK Coastguard.

"This was very hard for me. I still have nightmares about this now," he said.

Mr Ahmadzai settled in Barnsley, and was told about the local bike workshop by his English teacher.

He said having cheap transport had been "very helpful" as he saw walking as his only other option.

He said: "My teacher told me about the workshop and receiving my bike has been really good for me.

"I use my bike to go to college, the gym and cricket classes."

Mr Ahmadzai now volunteers at the workshop every Tuesday morning to help repair and distribute bikes for other refugees and asylum seekers.

The Barnsley Refugee Bike Project, which refurbishes pre-owned bikes before distributing them to those in need, has donated more than 500 across South Yorkshire - and further afield.

The scheme was the brainchild of Mr Simons after he donated his own spare bike to a newly arrived refugee.

He said: "I attended a meeting at the Penistone asylum seekers support group and we heard a chap was after a bike. I had a spare bike I donated.

"It railroaded from there. We've had bikes donated from Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.

"We've even had a colleague fish bikes out of a canal to help us out."

Initially, Mr Simons was collecting and repairing bikes in his own garage, but with recent National Lottery funding, the project has been able to move into a dedicated unit.

He has since been organising monthly community bike rides to help users get to know the local area.

He said: "It's been really interesting to see.

"The refugee and asylum seekers have been coming back to build up their skills."

Barnsley Council public health director Anna Hartley praised the project as a "shining example of how community initiatives can support health and wellbeing".

She said: "It's about freedom, opportunity, and connection.

"This project combines all that, while giving old bikes new life, reducing waste, and building a stronger, more inclusive community here in Barnsley."

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