Community Link Foundation assists WACA

The Community Link Foundation was delighted to be able to assist a grant request from Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association.

Julia Mackenzie, secretary at the club, contacted Community link Foundation looking for assistance towards the costs of replacing some mountain bikes that had been stolen from the centre.

The club exists to help the community to engage more positively together. We aim to improve people’s health and well being by providing programmes that develop a lively and active citizenship culture and empower all members of our community to build confidence, develop employability skills, grow community cohesion and to work together to create a better environment. We provide space for people with disabilities and the elderly to feel engaged and part of the community.

Julia told Community Link Foundation “We have had a theft of 11 of our Mountain Bikes – although they are insured, we won’t get back the full value of all the bikes. This will leave us unable to put on Mountain Biking events for the community unless we can secure some extra bikes. We provide Mountain Bike activities for predominantly young people (male and female) (ages 11-19), family bike rides, Duke of Edinburgh participants, Young Mountain bike Leader training, and we use our own mini bus and trailer to take people on trips to Llandegla, Delamere, Yorkshire etc. This increases skills, confidence, team working, leadership and participation and builds relationships. This is a vibrant activity, but we have had 11 of our best bikes stolen, leaving women’s bikes with child seats, Four of the bikes were bought using funding that young people raised with a Youth Led Bid, and the bikes had only been used a couple of times as they were specifically for Young Asst Leader Accredited training. The young people who worked on the bid are understandable devastated”

Community Link Foundation chairperson David Barron said “It was devastating to hear that the club had their bikes stolen and that they were struggling with replacements, although we were only able to help to a small level we do hope that our support will allow activities to resume sooner rather than later”