Beryl Bikes x New Routes Partnership
9th December 2024
We are thrilled to announce that we are extending our travel accessibility partnership with Beryl Bikes.
Beryl x New Routes was born from discussions around improving access for our participants to Refugee Week Norwich events. Meanwhile giving our participants free Beryl transport would enable greater access to our ongoing classes, activities, and opportunities at St Martin, The FREE Shop, and around the city of Norwich too.
The scheme proved successful, enabling New Routes (and other Norwich Integration Partnership) participants to explore their surroundings, feel truly independent, and get to pressing appointments, learning opportunities and other events. Free travel is especially life-changing for those based in the hotels on the outskirts of the city , and everyone on extremely low incomes which obviously do not allow for personal cars, taxis, and even bus tickets being a stretch.
New Routes was pleased to extend the New Routes X Beryl Bikes scheme until the end of 2024. As winter drew in participants began to ask whether they could renew their rides, and as NR and Beryl discussed the take-up and benefits of the free rides it became clear that there remained a demand for the scheme.
The scheme is open to New Routes Staff, including volunteers, as well as participants. This generous offer feels like a Thank You in support of community workers – it helps to pay the expenses of the travel, provides a quick and efficient journey, and it injects a bit of new fun into the familiar.
Ben Lee, Strategic Partners Lead at Beryl Bikes said,
“ We are so thankful to build our relationship with New Routes – it’s great to be able to give generous offers to those needing to access basic services but who live far across the city, especially during the winter months. This dissolves a barrier to inclusion for those who have little to no income. In tern this access boosts participation in our practical activities, advice sessions, and various educational classes. New Routes work to get participants into volunteering, work experience, and eventually paid roles – contributing to our city community, environment, and supporting key services. Simply being able to get to these opportunities is, of course, vital, and Beryl is happy to help!”
New Routes participant Mohammed said….
New Routes Partnerships, Development and Comms Coordinator, Alaine said, “Our participants LOEV this scheme – it’s a life-line that opens up their worlds, new home, and possibilities for the future. It replaces stress and isolation, with access and inclusion – that’s what New Routes is all about, and we are grateful to Beryl Bikes (and their social responsibility funders The National Grid) for recognising the value in what they are offering us, for their ongoing support enabling our services success, and for continuing to support those with the least in our city – giving them the option of bundles of free rides, as we so often see in the settled community too. Beryl are very generous in this way, and therefore appreciated in our community.”
Alaine Mukene-Drew, Development Coordinator at New Routes, said:
We were overjoyed to have Beryl supporting Refugee Week, and now our all-year-round provision to help the most vulnerable in our city, to enable their access to learning, social and future-building opportunities. We exist to help new community members integrate into Norwich life, and this scheme embodies the kindness, and openness of access which is required to achieve that.
We welcome any other businesses or services who may be able to support what we do! I would love to hear from you.
As a keen cyclist myself I had never used the Beryl Bikes before. I had no idea how fun e-bikes are, the time they save, the convenience and amount of bays across the city, and out to Wymondham. The app works really well, so you stay in control of your journeys. And when I had a puncture recently I was not slowed down at all – not by my lack of time, the cold weather, the hills I was transporting materials up… it was fun, and quite a relief! Thank You Beryl!!!”
To sign-up to the scheme please contact New Routes!
Posted in: News
