This summer, BPL Global is supporting The Bike Project, an innovative UK-based charity helping refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Bike Project supplies refurbished bicycles to refugees looking to build a new life here in the UK. It might sound like a simple act, but a bike is a much-needed mode of transport for those experiencing significant financial and cultural hurdles. It means better access to services such as food banks, education, healthcare, and advice, as well as a form of exercise and the associate wellbeing benefits.

So far, the organisation has provided more than 9,500 bicycles to refugees arriving in the UK from places like Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and recently Ukraine. Many of those helped by The Bike Project include vulnerable people and unaccompanied minors, with the youngest recipient aged just two years old.

As a charity, it relies solely on donations to cover professional refurbishment and delivery as well as support services, with each gifted bike costing around £100.

To support The Bike Project, BPL Global will be sponsoring staff as they participate in virtual cycling challenges over the summer, donating £3 for every mile cycled.

Each Refugee Route challenge represents a common journey made by refugees, ranging from Calais to Dover (51 miles), Damascus to Izmir (918 miles), and even Mariupol to London (1996 miles).

Five teams have already signed up: three from BPL’s London office, one in Singapore and one in New York. In total, they have committed to cycling over 5,000 miles by the end of September, with at least one team vowing to take on the 1996-mile Mariupol to London route.

The Bike Project is incredibly grateful for BPL Global’s generous commitment of donating £3/mile cycled in their Refugee Routes challenge. With a goal of 5,000 miles, BPL’s contribution has the potential to help us refurbish and donate 180 bikes to asylum seekers and refugees. A bike is more than just transport, it supports wellbeing, improves access to support services and helps integration in the UK. Thank you!” – The Bike Project

We will be posting regular updates to the BPL Global LinkedIn page on the progress of our teams and our fundraising targets, so stay tuned.

To find out more about The Bike Project, visit thebikeproject.co.uk