RGU's Go Green initiative supports children with learning disabilities with bike donations

Student-led sustainability group RGU Go Green has donated 40 abandoned bikes to Camphill School in Aberdeen to be distributed to children and young people with learning disabilities. The donation not only supports the wider community, but also the university's journey to net zero through the promotion of greener methods of transport. Campus Cycling Officer Manas Disoriya tells us more.

"Climate change can cause more frequent and intense storms, heat waves, droughts, rising sea levels,
melting glaciers and warming oceans which can directly affect wildlife and humans. To annihilate
climate change, most countries have set net zero targets. Scotland pledged to meet its net zero emission targets by 2045 and to reinforce the Scottish Government’s ambition, Robert Gordon University has set out varied action plans.

"RGU is steadfast in promoting active travel and sustainability among staff members and students. Moreover, they are not just trying to fight climate change but also want the community to take these habits for a lifetime. To advance sustainability and carbon reduction, RGU has the Go Green initiative, a student volunteer-based community that works on innovative and new sustainable ideas.

"They run various projects, including:

• Kaim shop, where you can donate or take home second-hand clothes for free.
• Climate Action Network, a group of climate enthusiasts who educate students on climate change and work with the university to improve its carbon footprint.
• BikePad, a bike hire scheme which allows staff and students to hire bikes, including a lock, lights and a helmet to stay safe. They also offer free bike repairs at their workshop, located in RGU's student accommodation Woolmanhill.

"On the 2nd of November 2022, the BikePad donated 40 abandoned bikes to Camphill School. The charity provides day and residential support to 95 children and young people with learning disabilities and has joined forces with Police Scotland to take part in the "On Yer Bike project". Through this initiative, they repair, recover, recycle, or refurbish old bikes and donate them to the children. This is one of the best ways to increase involvement with the circular economy while promoting the use of green transport."

BikePad Student Head, Jallen Chen, shared how the donation will also help the Go Green initiative in the future:

“This donation was very beneficial because we have a small workshop, and these bikes were just taking up space. Now we can get more functional bikes for the bike hiring scheme for students and have more space at our workshop”.