Case Study - September 2023

This case study has been kindly completed by Elspeth Gracey, who is one of our valued Community Green Team volunteers.

The fourth in a series of case studies on volunteers in the De'ils On Wheels community bike workshop.

This volunteer doesn’t live in the local area and is “coming up to a year” as a volunteer. A family member introduced him to the organisation and although they have to travel into the area they find many benefits from being involved as a volunteer.

Improved Health and Well-Being

When asked if they could identify any benefits under this heading the response was “Absolutely, having retired I missed contact with people at work. Being in the workshop and sometimes dealing with members of the public gave me that back. I also wanted to ‘give back’ so doing something worthwhile that benefits others was important too. It gives me something to get up for and feels good to be doing something worthwhile. There is a satisfaction in fixing stuff - so all good really.”

Increased Knowledge, confidence and skills

“Undoubtedly, I’ve been through the ‘cycle form’ training and the Workshop Manager is a magnificent teacher. There’s always something to learn.”

More connected to the Community

“Well of course I don’t live locally but I definitely know a lot more about what is happening in Scotstoun and all the things that go on around here. Being part of local events helps with that.”

Pride in Place

“We do lots of business within the local community. It’s good to see kids on bikes that we’ve been involved with. Good that they are not just hanging about. The beauty of what we do is that lots of bikes are returns. A parent may get a bike for a 5 year old then they bring that back to get one when they’re 7, 9 and so on. We are the first choice for providing bikes sometimes for whole families - especially when money may be tight for them. That’s important and that’s what we are about.”

"I also wanted to ‘give back’ so doing something worthwhile that benefits others was important too. It gives me something to get up for and feels good to be doing something worthwhile. There is a satisfaction in fixing stuff - so all good really.” De'ils On Wheels volunteer

More materials reused, recycled and diverted from landfill

“100% of materials are reused and recycled if at all possible. For example the Council guys will bring us bikes that would otherwise go to landfill. Even if a bike itself is to be scrapped we take everything off it particularly if it can be reused. Everything gets sorted and used even separating out the plastics.”

Reduced CO2

“The more people we get on bikes the more people are not in their cars. We promote active travel. Cycle skills training is important too; showing children how to peddle properly and set their bike up so that its working efficiently. Encouraging cycling at a young age, developing that habit is bound to mean their CO2 use will be reduced.”

Feedback re the workshop

“I’ve never volunteered before but I find it very rewarding. People are very engaging and very inclusive. They make a point of celebrating volunteers. I now look upon the Volunteer Coordinator and the Workshop Manager as friends.”

Feedback on the workshop

“The workshop can be very busy, there’s lots of stuff in there. It’s good that this week is a bit of clear up week. They try really hard to make us know that they really appreciate us.”

“One thing I do think they maybe don’t do enough publicity - maybe online advertising could be explored? I wonder if car boot sales would be an opportunity to sell spares that could be reused? A shop front would help perhaps? We have more spares that we will ever use ourselves they could be sold.”

“They have asked us in informal conversations, just ‘shooting the breeze’ but can those ideas be chased down into specific action? I think they may need specific strategies for instant wins - maybe ‘a saddle sale’ or a ‘wheel sale’ but then that has to be assigned specifically.”

“Overall I’m really happy and I look forward to going every time.”