AN INNOVATIVE bike repair project that provides work for people with mental health problems is celebrating a successful first year.

Hope2Cycle has gone from strength to strength since launching in Bournemouth last March, providing a safe and secure workplace for people recovering from mental health problems and producing affordable second-hand bikes for the community.

It was brainchild of social worker Gary Cure, who is a firm believer that repairing broken bicycles and selling them on can be hugely therapeutic.

The shop, in Wimborne Road, Moordown, is totally inclusive, employing staff and volunteers recovering from mental health problems and those who simply want to learn new skills.

They receive broken bikes from a variety of sources, including CenterParcs in Wiltshire, and restore them to full working order before selling them on at affordable prices.

The project also holds cycle workshops at Bournemouth University and the Arts Institute and is in discussions with the NHS and councils about new pilot schemes.

Gary said: “There’s a start, middle and end in getting an old bike, looking at it, finding out what’s wrong with it, working on it, finishing it and then ultimately selling it.

“I’ve worked with people who have been in floods of tears working on a bike and they can’t explain why that is.

“We’ve not had any grant funding, we are not beholden to anyone, we set this up by ourselves and we are very proud of that. Essentially this is a mainstream business, it looks just like an ordinary bike shop but we’re able to give people real life work experience.”