I joined Essex Pedal Power (EPP) as a volunteer in late 2023 after retiring and moving to Harwich.

Not knowing anyone in the area when I moved here, this has been a great way to get to meet people and feel part of the community as well as keeping me active physically and mentally and I have made some good friends within the welcoming team.

I signed up as a bike build volunteer which I enjoy immensely. It gives me such a lot of satisfaction to come in and build a bike knowing that I am helping someone get mobile.

I was then offered the opportunity to attend training to become a a qualified ride leader through the project, and have gone on to lead many rides. This has developed into regular weekly rides and also special event rides. I believe that I have volunteered more than 200 hours and the team tell me I have built more than 150 bikes.

I love seeing the distinctive bright orange bikes being used around the Harwich area by both young and old and I take pride in thinking “I may have built that one.

It is a great scheme that gets people out and about in the fresh air, doing exercise that will improve their wellbeing and I thoroughly enjoy being part of it.

Read more case studies from our volunteers here.