Bike repair shop with 'social purpose' to close

Max Nino-Zarazua has volunteered at the shop for eight years and said he will miss it when it closes

A bike repair workshop which raises money in aid of a homeless charity has announced it will close in October.

Julian House's Bike Workshop, in Bath, has repurposed donated bikes since 2011 with all profits going back to the charity.

But in recent years the shop has struggled to turn a profit and the charity said the rise in National Insurance had led to increasing costs.

"We don't get any statutory funding, we pay business rates and rent here - but this business has a social purpose," said Julian House chief executive Helen Bedser.

Besides the bike shop, the charity employs 200 people across the South West and the National Insurance rise has added an extra £165,000 to its costs this year.

"It was a really difficult decision to make," Ms Bedser said. "We had wrangled over it for some time as the margins had been slight for a while.

"People are really sad on our behalf and sad for the local area.

"It has had such a big impact over the years."

Simon Heard learned mechanical skills when he took part in classes at the shop

The shop runs a build-a-bike workshop which teaches those who are homeless, or who have used substances in the past, how to dismantle bikes and rebuild them from their parts.

At the end of the project, the course member receives the bike they repaired for free.

"It helps me get out and gives me independence," said course member Simon Heard, who had been homeless in Bath until January.

"It's just nice to have somewhere to come and learn new skills and it is a shame to see the shop go."

The shop sells hundreds of refurbished bikes every year to people in Bath

One of the shop's volunteers, Max Nino-Zarazua, said the workshop was "therapy" for him.

"I am self-employed so I spend hours in my garage looking at computers," he said.

"Coming here breaks my day and brings me happiness.

"It's sad a project like this - which is much needed in Bath - is going to close."