For many, R-evolution is a familiar provider of cycle services in the Hull and Humber area, famous for its purple gazebo that pitches up at locations and events across the region.
Established in 2014, R-evolution has been supporting and engaging with communities across the city, as well as in East Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire for more than a decade.
The charity provides a range of cycle services to help remove barriers and enable people to either get on a bike for the first time, keep their current bikes serviceable, or improve their confidence and skills knowledge through cycle maintenance training. The charity also offers horticultural training.
CEO Paul Storey said: “We exist to make being active outdoors an option for everybody. As a charity, we love engaging with local people and with our communities.
“We think that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, to feel confident in their abilities, and to be a part of a community.
“We also understand that not everyone is afforded such opportunities and that is why we exist in order to provide them.”
R-evolution, like many charities, receives funding from various sources, including from local authorities.
As part of its strategic objective to promote more active and sustainable forms of travel in the city, Hull City Council appointed R-evolution to operate a cycling hub from Trinity Market as well as several community cycle hubs around the city.
Whether exploring, commuting or shopping, the Trinity Market Cycle Hub is there for all your bicycle needs.
In addition to selling affordable, recycled, and refurbished bikes, R-evolution’s mechanics at Trinity Market also offer:
- full cycle servicing and repairs
- monthly cycle maintenance workshops
- electric bike hire.
The hub also offers free indoor secure parking.
Paul added: “The Trinity Market Cycle Hub is an example of how we, as a charity, have successfully diversified in recent years to deliver a community project that offers real and tangible benefits.
“The hub acts as a focal point for our cycle project in Hull. It is a place where we train our volunteers, who then put their new skills into practice by delivering the community cycle hubs. It is also a location where we are aiming to host more bespoke events in the future.
“Thanks to the ongoing support of Hull City Council, we have developed a solid foundation to build on at the Trinity Market Cycle Hub.
“It plays an integral part of the offer we provide to local people to support them to travel in a more active and sustainable way.
“In 2023-24, 242 affordable bike sales were made, 1,555 cycle repairs and services were made, 3,905 people used our free indoor cycle parking, we engaged with 4,754 people and provided 18 Hull residents with work experience.”
In addition to the Trinity Market Cycle Hub, Hull City Council also funds R-evolution to run community cycle hubs at locations across Hull, including Peel Street, Preston Road, Orchard Park, Bransholme and Thornton Village Hall.
The aim of the hubs is for local communities to have a reliable and dependable place to go for bike services, puncture repairs and the occasional cycle maintenance course.
Dedicated mechanics are at these hubs on a regular basis offering free:
- cycle safety checks
- minor cycle repairs
- cycle loans
- cycle maintenance demonstrations.
Another area that R-evolution supports with is staff travel.
With businesses and organisations in Hull increasingly focusing on the sustainability agenda, R-evolution’s expertise is even more in demand.
Paul said: “We already work with many businesses and organisation in the city to provide solutions to their staff transport needs, whether it is bike loans, Dr Bike sessions; to check and repair the bikes of commuters; or a loan of our electric bike fleet to offer people the chance to try one out before they purchase.
“We are interested in developing reciprocal relationships with businesses and organisations. For example, we can support them with initiatives to change staff travel behaviour and provide the relevant reporting, breaking down things like carbon and financial savings, and, in turn, they support us through activities like sponsoring a bike library event at a local school.”
As a volunteer-led charity, R-evolution is also regularly on the look out to recruit to its ranks.
Volunteers are offered free training in their preferred area of interest, whether it is cycle maintenance (IMI) or horticulture (City & Guilds).
“Our 32 volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity.
“Like many volunteers, they are motivated by the desire to give something back to the community and in exchange we offer them a comprehensive training package, opportunities to build confidence and free life coaching and pastoral support for their wellbeing.”
As well as further developing a bespoke event offer at the Trinity Market Cycle Hub, Paul also highlighted additional aspirations for R-evolution.
“We have just re-started the All-Ride accessible cycle project in Bridlington, which is always well-received. We’d like to expand this offer further and maybe look at the possibility of creating a community hub in the town.
“However, it is important to remember that we are more than a ‘cycle charity’ and our horticulture project, at Normanby Hall County Park, continues to go from strength-to-strength and we would like to explore further opportunities on how we might do more, particularly in Hull, potentially through community garden projects.
“Horticultural qualifications are the gateway into working in agriculture and our project aims to close the skills gap in this area and provide people with the skills needed to gain employment in this important sector.”
- To find out more about R-evolution, visit: r-evolution.org.uk
Modeshift STARS
To assist businesses and organisations within the city to achieve their environmental ambitions and support their staff to make more active and sustainable journeys, Hull City Council is encouraging employers to join Modeshift STARS, the national travel plan accreditation scheme.
If you are a large business or organisation and would like to take part, contact Caitlynne Picot, travel plan officer (business) at Hull City Council, at: caitlynne.picot@hullcc.gov.uk
