Safebase Scotland volunteers who patrol Forth Valley and help people in need have been given a boost this winter with the loan of two electric bikes from FEL Scotland.
The organisation is lending the charity two £6K Tern GSD cargo bikes so they can respond more quickly and easily to incidents where individuals require first aid or mental health support. The Safebase team were offered the loan following a chance encounter when FEL Community Project Officer Drew Taylor spotted them struggling to climb the hilly streets of Stirling on non-electric bikes while carrying 25kg of medical and first aid equipment.
After chatting with Safebase chair Richard Mclennan, he realised his organisation, which has a large e-bike library, could offer a loan. The move will help make Stirling’s streets safer this winter as Safebase volunteers conduct patrols and respond to calls from partners, including Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to support incidents of anti-social behaviour or individuals in distress.
Drew says: “I was at Stirling’s Christmas Parade, where Safebase were on first aid duty, and was surprised to see Richard and his colleague cycling up towards the Castle carrying all their heavy gear in panniers. I knew how hard that must be and went over to ask why they didn’t have electric bikes which Richard advised was due to financial constraints. I realised FEL might be able to help as we had bikes which would be perfect for carrying their gear around and put the wheels in motion to organise a loan.”
FEL recently handed over the two bikes, which have been branded with ‘Safebase’ and ‘Ambulance’ wording by Stirling firm Spaced-Out Grafix, and fitted with first aid kits. The organisation will also provide mechanical support and servicing for the bikes.
Drew added: “It’s amazing how a chance conversation led to an opportunity for us to help make the Safebase team’s lives easier and I’m delighted the bikes are being used for such an important job. “
Richard said the bikes will allow the team to cover more of Stirling and make it easier to reach incidents in areas such as King’s Park which has some hilly and rough terrain.
He said: “We’re over the moon with the loan and so grateful to Drew and FEL for taking the time to think about us and help us – I really was in the right place at the right time that day. Having two electric bikes to add to our current mountain bikes will allow us to travel around more quickly and effectively and we can easily carry our defibrillators, trauma kits and standard first aid kits to deal with any medical emergency. The bikes give us a lot of flexibility to respond like a mini ambulance and provide a better service which all helps keep Stirling and its residents safe.”
The Safebase team will be looking out for people enjoying the festive season in Stirling over the next few weeks and in addition to street patrols, they will be operating their ‘safe haven’ initiative for anyone who needs support.
Located at the Service Entrance of the Thistles on Goosecroft Road the initiative, which is operating from 8am until 3am on Friday December 20, Saturday December 28 and Hogmanay, offers an area for people to shelter if they have been stranded due to injury, incapacity or missing transport home.
Safebase works in partnership with other local organisations such as Go Forth Stirling BID (Business Improvement District) and the city’s Pubwatch group of licensed premises owners to ensure Stirling is a welcoming and safe place for visitors and residents.
Danielle McRorie-Smith is Project Director of the BID which supports Safebase and administers the Stirling Pubwatch scheme. She said: “It’s wonderful to see this collaboration between two vital Stirling organisations and I know the FEL electric bikes will give the Safebase team a real boost as they patrol the city helping people. Stirling is a great place to come for an evening out during the festive season and we’re pleased to support the work of Safebase volunteers who go out into our streets in cold weather to provide a safety net for anyone who needs it.”
For more information about Safebase Scotland, visit www.safebasescotland.org
For more details about Go Forth Stirling, which represents more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to Stirling and making it a more welcoming destination, visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
