A CYCLING charity which was founded in Wellington has received a £1,000 donation from a south west developer.

Persimmon Homes South West, the developer behind the Hartnells Farm development in Taunton, has lent a helping hand to the Somerset cycling charity, On Your Bike, as part of its Community Champions initiative.

Established in Wellington in 2010, On Your Bike works to train and support those who have suffered social exclusion, have physical disabilities and mental health problems, as well as ex-service personnel, ex-offenders, homeless and long-term unemployed.

The charity work with these individuals to refurbish unwanted bicycles – donated or rescued from landfill – which are then sold in shops.

They have recycled and serviced thousands of bikes, supplying affordable bikes to the communities it serves in Taunton and Bridgwater.

As well as providing wraparound support, the bike shop also provides beneficiaries with new skills, confidence, self-worth, and a desire to be a proactive part of the community through working in fully equipped workshops with support and supervision from its trained mechanics to refurbish unwanted bicycles.

Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £700,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Taunton RFC Junior Section, West Monkton Parish Council, and Wellington Baptist Church’s Warm Place programme.

Mike Southway, On Your Bike’s vice-chair of trustees, said: “We were delighted to hear that Persimmon were impressed by our work and thrilled that they wanted to donate to us.

“On Your Bike is proud of the way we give skills, confidence, a sense of self-worth, and a desire to be a proactive part of the community to people who feel like they have none of these.

“We want to thank Persimmon for their support which will go a long way in helping us carry out the work we love and will have a great effect in the community.”