Birmingham County Football Association is proud to announce a new partnership with The Bike Project.

Everyone wants to live in a place where they feel safe and welcome. For refugees and asylum seekers, football can play a hugely important role in helping to settle into a new country and culture, to make friends, and get to know the local area. However, access to transport when living in poverty or on a limited income can be a challenge.

Founded in 2013, The Bike Project opened its doors in Birmingham in 2019, and provides an innovative solution to one of the most pressing problems facing asylum seekers and refugees – access to transport when living in poverty or on a limited income, which for asylum seekers is as little as £5.66 per day (Home Office, 2021). The Bike Project’s mission is simple: Each year they match refugees and asylum seekers without the means or money to get around with the many thousands of bikes that go abandoned or unloved around the country. 

To date, The Bike Project has collected, refurbished and donated 8,842 bikes to newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers and created a thriving social enterprise selling secondhand bikes nationwide, the proceeds of which fund charitable activities. By collecting and refurbishing abandoned bikes, The Bike Project has created a sustainable model of re-use that achieves physical, emotional and practical benefits for refugees and asylum seekers, one of the UK’s most diverse, disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

Birmingham County FA are now a bike donation point, and are ready to take your old bikes to donate! The Bike Project take adult and children’s bikes in reasonable conditions, even if they are missing a pedal or two. No matter the condition, The Bike Project will do what they can to refurbish the bike, or even take parts if the frame isn’t in the best condition!

Mizan Rahman, Diversity, Inclusion & Youth Male Football Development Officer at Birmingham County FA says: “I’m really proud to see this partnership kick off. We at the County FA as part of our Diversity & Inclusion programme, are always working to provide accessible football sessions for Refugees and Asylum seekers. However, it is still a big challenge to get maximum attendance due to transport barriers. I like to think this new initiative will help us minimise these barriers and allow all Refugees and Asylum seekers to enjoy the game, and be part of everyday life.”

To donate your bike to The Bike Project, find your nearest drop off point and register your bike for donation here

To find out more about The Bike Project, you can view their Impact Report here, or visit their website here