Scottish Building Society Foundation has awarded £4,985 to the Edinburgh Tool Library to plug a gap caused to a sustainable transport project by a cut to funding last year.
The library’s Cycle Kitchen programme designed to inspire social mobility in the city was to be dropped from its activities until the Foundation stepped in.
This sustainable transport project involves teaching people how to use tools properly and how to maintain their bikes, encouraging self-reliance.
The project also encourages an eco-friendly lifestyle with cycling as a form of getting around and also maintaining bicycles rather than throwing them away and getting a new model.
The funding will pay training costs for three volunteers who will achieve professional cycle mechanic certifications and funding for workstation tools and training kits. It will also pay for a project coordinator to oversee volunteers and assist with training and community events.
The library has more than 2,000 tools in two workshops for anyone to learn how to use and hire.
Thomas Bartels, Project Coordinator, Edinburgh Tool Library: “”The establishment of the Cycle Kitchen is a direct response to our community’s desire to use our bicycle tools, while also expressing frustration with possessing adequate know-how. We found members might often neglect basic maintenance rather than paying for non-terminal repairs which could easily be solved themselves.
“The grant provided by the Scottish Building Society Foundation saved us from having to consider ending the project or dealing with drawn-out timelines and has made it possible to keep this initiative on-track.
“The Scottish Building Society Foundation is designed to give back to local communities across Scotland and this is exactly what they are doing.
“Delivering Cycle Kitchen means that we can support people who want to tackle transport poverty by cycling but are unsure how to keep their bikes on the road. Crucially, for those who are finding public transport or the cost of running a car too expensive, it gives them the opportunity to try a free, and healthy, way of getting from A to B.”
Lisa McKay, Scottish Building Society Relationship Manager for Edinburgh, added: “Supporting the local community is at the heart of what we do at the Society and so I’m delighted that we can aid Edinburgh Tool Library in driving their fantastic work forward.
“They carry out a vitally important service for the whole of Edinburgh, and it’s fantastic to know that we are a part of helping them to empower people with knowledge to tackle transport equity and deliver sustainable transport across the city.”
Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, said: “As part of our 175th anniversary celebrations, we wanted to mark the occasion with an incentive that upholds our core value of giving back to the communities.
“Edinburgh Tool Library’s Cycle Kitchen is a fantastic cause and it’s great to see it being supported by the Scottish Building Society Foundation with funding.
“We’re encouraged at the volume of interest from a variety of inspiring community groups and charities across Scotland and look forward to seeing how they use the funding to make positive impact. With the second round, we hope to see this go even further.
“The Scottish Building Society Foundation whilst in its infancy, we hope will make a big difference to many people across the country and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Foundation Scotland to grow the incentive in the years ahead.
“By investing in good causes, we are building stronger communities.”
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