“Every month dozens of bikes are dumped and left at train stations.
Southern used to sell them at auction, but now donates them to organisations which make them roadworthy, and find new homes for them.
Last year 103 refurbished bikes were donated to NHS workers, this year four new charities in the South East will receive about 90 bikes each.
The Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) in Newhaven has already received 25 bikes.
The SCDA teaches bike repair skills to unemployed people and gives them work experience. Those who take part also go away with a bike of their own.
Paul Horta-Hopkins, bike technician at the charity, said: ‘It’s not necessarily about training these people to become bike mechanics, but about being reliable and able to take instruction – skills to help them get back into work.’
Chichester-based Stonepillow is another charity set to benefit. It will refurbish the bikes and sell them to help fund its work supporting homeless and vulnerable people.”
View the whole story here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-55734297