Paul’s story
Paul’s passion for cycling at Growing Lives has led to a job helping others.
Paul secured a job as a paid co-ordinator of volunteers for Bike Back Derby, using his engineering skills to help others refurbish bicycles, and in doing so supporting people to get fitter through cycling.
It’s a far cry from back in 2015 when Paul found himself unable to pay the rent after losing his job through poor mental health, which led to him being housed by Derventio Housing Trust.
At his housing officer’s suggestion, Paul started attending Growing Lives.
Growing Lives has a large workshop where residents and others who use the service can get involved in repairing bikes.
The bike repair scheme involves refurbishing and making bikes using donated parts, so they can be used again.
Paul, who has now moved on to his own property, said:
I used to like cycling and I’ve always been someone who likes taking things apart and finding out how they work.
The thing is that all bikes are different. There will always be something where you think: ‘I’ve never seen that before’. I do like to do things with my hands.
Derventio Housing Trust got me out of a very difficult situation where I was. From Growing Lives I went into volunteering and then from volunteering I went into this job – all from being on the bike project.