VICTORIA Police is throwing its support behind a bicycle project that will see young offenders refurbish old and unwanted bicycles and then donate the finished product to the Sunshine community.
Old bikes have been donated by Caroline Springs police and will be refurbished by offenders, who will restore the bikes under the guidance of expert bicycle mechanics and community corrections services staff.
The finished bikes will be presented to young people at Christmas time as part of the Department of Justice’s ‘Fix the Cycle’ project.
Community work program manager Stephen Cadman said young offenders, aged between 18 and 25, would work with a trained bike mechanic at weekly workshops and build on their skills and abilities.
“It will allow young offenders to learn useful mechanical and teamwork skills helping provide a pathway to future employment opportunities,” Mr Cadman said.
“This is about providing offenders with a better chance of avoiding future contact with the law as well as a way to recycle these otherwise unwanted bikes for a great cause.”
Participants in the program are on parole or court orders to perform community service and have been identified by community corrections services as suitable for the 12-week program.
Brimbank youth resource officer Senior Constable Sammy Stevens said police were keen to support an initiative that enabled young offenders to learn valuable skills and give back to the community.
“All the bicycles we are handing over to the program today have been donated by Victoria Police and local residents,’’ Sen Const Stevens said.
