- 🎁 A bike provided to a refugee newly arrived in London
- 🚲 A volunteer Bike Buddy to help find the way and settle in
- 🏡 Faster, affordable journeys and a stronger sense of belonging
Arriving in a new country after fleeing conflict can be overwhelming. For many refugees, simply getting around is a daily struggle: public transport is costly, journeys to appointments, food banks, or healthcare can take hours, and a single cancelled bus can mean missing something vital. Through Good Gifts, Wheely help provides a bike to a refugee, helping them save on transport costs and travel independently to work, education, and essential services. Riders can also be matched with a volunteer Bike Buddy who helps them learn their way around and grow in confidence on the road.
When Ahmad arrived in London from Afghanistan with his wife and young son, even a trip to the shops or an appointment could take hours, and a cancelled bus meant the family couldn’t get where they needed to go. Receiving a bike changed that.
Ahmad was paired with a Bike Buddy, Christopher, who listened, encouraged him, and helped him settle in. The two chatted non-stop on a ride from Holloway to Richmond, and Christopher has become one of Ahmad’s closest friends. They still ride together regularly, exploring new routes across the city.
“Receiving my bike from The Bike Project felt like a key to unlock the city, like someone saying, ‘We see you, believe in you and you deserve to enjoy life’.” — Ahmad
A bike does more than get someone from A to B. It opens up work, education, and essential services, builds friendships, and helps people new to the UK feel welcome and at home. Your gift of Wheely help helps refugees travel freely, build independence, and find their place in a new community. This gift was delivered in partnership with The Bike Project, which refurbishes donated second-hand bikes and gives them to refugees and people seeking asylum, alongside cycling lessons and Bike Buddy support to help them ride with confidence.
