Federal Member for Perth Tim Hammond and Dismantle Inc chief executive Pat Ryan.
Camera IconFederal Member for Perth Tim Hammond and Dismantle Inc chief executive Pat Ryan. Credit: Supplied/Giovanni Torre

Dismantle: West Leederville shop receives grant to help work with at-risk youth

Giovanni TorreWestern Suburbs Weekly

WEST Leederville bike repair business Dismantle has received a community grant to help their work with at-risk youth.

Dismantle Inc’s Bike Rescue initiative will receive $10,000 from Australia Post’s Our Neighbourhood community grants program.

Chief executive Pat Ryan said the grant would fund one program and enable the company to build its partnership with the City of Gosnells.

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“We partner with other agencies like schools and youth centres. We also work with Juvenile Justice,” he said.

Youth strip back old bikes, clean off rust, and replace parts.

“They build a bike; the first is for charity and they also build a second bike they keep themselves,” said Mr Ryan.

The program teaches technical and social skills.

“The Bike Doctor is a business run for profit, and we put funds from it into Dismantle and the work we do with youth,” he said.

“We work with about 200 to 250 kids a year – each program involves about ten kids. We don’t have any funding – we are looking for grants or we have to charge schools directly (to run the programs). It’s two half-days a week with students whose behaviour and/or attendance has been a problem at the school.”

Federal Member for Perth Tim Hammond welcomed the grant announcement and praised the work of Bike Rescue.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for a great community organisation to expand further… and continue their work improving the lives of young people in Perth and around WA,” he said. “I hope this will encourage other not-for-profit groups to apply for community grants, and further enrich the positive social atmosphere of our local community.”

The ‘Our Neighbourhood’ Community Grants Program was established by Australia Post in 2013 to recognise and reward community organisations that are bringing people together and helping local communities thrive.

Dismantle Inc. is a not-for-profit start-up organisation formed in 2011 that uses bikes as a tool to connect with and provide mentor support for young people.