IT'S GREAT WHEN GOOD CAUSES SUPPORT EACH OTHER!

I may have said a few days ago that we were trying to find a bicycle for the couple we have been supporting with Bags of Hope for the last four weeks.

A few days ago, I had a message from Simon, the Workshop Supervisor at Recycles, a social enterprise run by the Salvation Army at Booth House in Swindon, to say that following my enquiry, they had a bicycle that might be suitable for E. the man we had been supporting.  We were very excited as we knew it would make a difference to him, so this morning we called at Booth House to collect it.  

We received a warm welcome and lots of smiles from the time we walked into the reception office and we were then taken round to meet Simon.  On the way we met Ben, one of the mechanics, who wasn’t keen to have his photograph taken - but Simon said he was quite happy to be part of my Blip for today.

I took a shot of Simon with the bike we were about to purchase - bottom right - and he kindly said they would only charge us for the cost of repairs, so we were very happy with that.  We told him that we knew the recipient would be delighted, and when we delivered it to E - see my top right shot, he was!  In fact, his smiling face and the big hug he gave us both said it all!

Simon told us about what they do at Recycles;  he said it had been open for 14 years and that he had been there for 10 years - anyone from the public can go in there.  I wish I was still a “biker” but alas my two-wheel biking days are over, because my balance is not that good - but I couldn’t see a three-wheeler in there!

Their WEBSITE says this:

“Our main mission is to provide work opportunities for People experiencing homelessness, so they can pick themselves up and get their lives back on course.

We do this by offering training and experience of a workshop and/or retail environment to any resident of Booth House, the Salvation Army’s Life House Centre for homeless people in Swindon.

In Recycles our clients are given the chance to learn new and valuable skills as bike mechanics, but – even more importantly – it helps boost clients confidence necessary to face their challenges and rebuild their lives.”

They want donations, but not your money, so if anyone lives near Swindon, do call in and see them - especially if you have an old bicycle to donate, or perhaps you need to upgrade your present one!  There were lots to choose from.    

Sadly, they didn’t have any bike locks - they are waiting for them to come in - so we went to Halfords, which is just along the road, to buy one - no point in having a bike without a lock these days!

I was quite taken with the tee shirts - at bottom left - shame they don’t do a purple one but they do have a bright pink one - wonder if they do it in my size?  Must check it out! 

As I said in my title, it's great when good causes support each other, so HUGE THANKS to Simon for all his help - reminds me of another Simon I know - a dear Blip friend who would do the same thing in a heartbeat!  Shame he lives so far away from Swindon, as I'm sure he would enjoy being part of this amazing place!  

P.S.  Mr. HCB got on well when he visited the nurse yesterday and she was pleased that his head appears to be healing well - but she still wants to see him on Friday to check it again.  He still has a small plaster on the wound, but he is hopeful that it will be much better by then and he will be discharged.  My turn tomorrow when I go to see my GP.