Heart & Spokes
What inspires someone to give up their free time, step outside their comfort zone and make a difference? In this series, we’re sharing the real behind-the-scenes stories of the incredible people who dedicate their time, skills and passion to supporting Broken Spoke. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of everything we do. Read on to discover their personal journeys, motivations and unexpected connections along the way, and to see how volunteering can have such a positive impact, both to the volunteers themselves and the community we live in.
This month we spoke to Anna who volunteers at Broken Spokes’ bike recycling sessions.
How long have/had you been volunteering with Broken Spoke?
I’ve been volunteering since June 2025.
Why did you decide to begin volunteering?
I love cycling and I wanted to learn some bike mechanic skills so that I could fix my own bike when problems arose. I didn’t have access to the tools or space to learn on my own bike, so volunteering during the bike recycling sessions seemed like the perfect way to learn whilst also giving back to the community.
What have you enjoyed most about your time volunteering?
I have most enjoyed the sense of independence and satisfaction that comes with developing my own mechanic skills. I no longer feel completely reliant on someone else to fix my bike for me which is a great feeling. Instead, I understand the workings behind bikes much better and feel more confident in riding and fixing bikes.
What benefits have you experienced personally?
Besides making me feel more confident in my bike mechanic skills, volunteering at the broken spoke has also meant meeting loads of lovely people to chat about bikes and share knowledge with! It is a very welcoming and friendly environment and I look forward to the sessions.
Do you have any stories you could share about your time volunteering?
With the bike recycling sessions you encounter all sorts of weird and unusual bike parts and mechanisms like double ended inner tubes which is cool to see!
Would you recommend volunteering (with Broken Spoke or generally) to others?
Definitely! You learn so much in such a short time and it’s a very rewarding feeling to give back to the community and promote sustainable practices!
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering at the Spoke?
You can volunteer even if you feel like you know nothing or very little about bikes. You can start working on very simple tasks with the help of trained mechanics and work your way up from there. The space is non-judgmental and includes people with all skill levels.
If this has inspired you to get involved or maybe you just have some questions for us. Get in touch via volunteer@bsbcoop.com and we would be delighted to chat with you and help you start your volunteering journey!
Like to share your volunteer story? Let us know by getting in touch via volunteer@bsbcoop.org or speaking to us at your next session.
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