Bradford: OnTrak Bike Shed repair project helps girl turn life around

Paiton gets to grips with a bicycle repair under the supervision of project found Adrian Woods MBE

A teenage girl expelled from school for fighting says repairing bicycles has helped her turn her life around.

Paiton, 15, recently became the first female mentor for the OnTrak Bike Shed project in Bradford.

In just over a year, the scheme has helped transform the lives of about 90 young people, organisers said.

Urging others to follow her example, the teenager said: "There's always another chance. There's always good in life."

Paiton has turned her life around with the scheme's help

Paiton told how she was placed on the six-week scheme in Wibsey after being kicked out of school.

Asked what the course had taught her, she added: "There's always another chance and just keep going forward... like, not everything's bad, there's always good in life."Adrian Woods MBE, who founded the OnTrak community initiative in 2012, said: "In school they've got to fit into the box; here, I can make the box fit around them. From that, I can build bridges, make them confident."

Paiton is now studying health and social care, English and mathematics at college.  

Mr Woods described her as "an intelligent kid", adding: "She's just bursting with confidence now, she's comfortable, she's happy.

Mr Woods said young people were referred via schools, youth services or the police. Participants are given a bike and taught the skills needed to repair it.

Once the bike has been repaired, they are allowed to keep it.PC Tom Dockerill, who asked Mr Woods to establish the programme, agreed Paiton was a "massive" success story.

The officer, who said the scheme needed further funding, said: "She is coming in every Wednesday as a volunteer to help the young people develop and bring their skills on."

"I've got some new females starting who are really down with anxiety. Paiton's going to look after them," Mr Woods added.