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Mathew Talbot Hostel is situated in Sydney, in the Darlinghurst area.
The hostel provides many services to homeless men, offering meals, bedding, counciling,and a wide variety of activities.
The activities vary greatly, music, sport, craft, and training for the work place, are just a few.
With a large number of bicycles available, we contacted the Hostel, asking if an activity involving bikes was feasible.
After meeting with the activity staff, a workshop was commenced the following Wednesday, being held on the same day each week, from 1pm to 4pm.
The workshops focus was on providing interested men the opportunity to repair and maintain bicycles, that in turn, were kept by them.
We supplied the bikes, the Hostel supplied oil, pumps, and some basic tools.
The first week eight people arrived at the workshop, and we managed to restore the bikes, giving the men a great afternoon, plus supplying transport, to help them with day to day living.
The next week was similar, with different men attending, as well as a couple who returned to assist in the general repairs.
This program continued for around two months, all up aproximatly 30 bikes were restored and given new homes.
The project was a great success, every one was happy with the outcome.
Due to limited time and being self funded, the project finished after two months.
We have been asked to re-commence the project at any time, depending on our availability.
CONCLUSION.
It was a difficult project, due to the nature of the people we worked with, being quite transient by nature, and often on various types of medications.
But over all, we obtained the result desired, supplying bikes to those in need, plus helping others gain greater self esteem.
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