Holiday program proves a winner

The BikeRescue program is a dynamic youth development program that uses hands-on skill-building to engage and mentor young people in need of support.

During each session, mentors work alongside participants while they spend three days building a bike, exploring their mental health, hobbies, passions, and vocational aspirations.

Dismantle chief executive officer and BikeRescue mentor Pat Ryan said the program had children build, strip, and paint mountain bikes to ride.

"In the school holidays, it really just keeps kids busy and out of trouble," he said.

"It's mainly working with kids that are having a really tough time, connecting them to school, connecting them to mental health organisations, or just community.

"Here, the main reason why we are doing it is to connect them to bike trails."

He said too often there was a lot of money spent on infrastructure and not necessarily a lot on activities.

"For kids that can't afford bicycles, there's a huge gap. So, I am really hoping we can fill that gap long term, but this is just baby steps," he said.

Mr Ryan also thanked Crank N' Cycles for their support in teaching the children how to ride the bikes.

BikeRescue participant Kadyn Atherton said he wanted to do the program because he was interested in building his own bike.

"We had to choose a bike, take it apart, give them a base coat, before painting them with whatever colour we wanted," he said.

"I don't usually do a lot over the holidays - just sit at home - so this is a good opportunity to get out and do something."

The program was able to offered because of a grant of almost $5000 from the first round of the Shire of Collie's Community Small Grants Fund for 2018/19.

Collie Police Community and Youth Centre manager Linda Gallagher said the program was fantastic.

"It gives the kids something different to do, but also a skill they can use to repair their own bikes," she said.