Wheels of Welcome is a cycling project funded by Sport England that supports refugees and asylum seekers in Coventry. The initiative promotes safe and accessible active travel, addressing mobility barriers while enhancing road safety awareness among newly arrived communities.

Cycling is essential for participants to access healthcare, education, legal appointments, and community services. Many of our clients have limited or no access to private or public transport, so cycling safely is crucial. Wheels of Welcome combines road safety training with practical cycling skills, particularly supporting women and new riders. Monthly community rides integrate guidance on navigating urban traffic, including roundabouts, junctions, and safe right turns, building both confidence and competence on the roads.

The project also delivers a structured maintenance programme, including a regular “Puncture Clinic” and a card-based repair system, ensuring bikes remain safe and roadworthy. These measures reinforce the project’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and independence.

Wheels of Welcome operates through a partnership-based approach, collaborating with local authorities, community groups, and transport professionals. This enables the project to model inclusive active travel and share learning on integrating road safety into community mobility programmes.

An important aspect of our work is evaluating cycle usage and wider benefits of cycling for our clients. Through a combination of specific case studies and client-based evaluation surveys we will demonstrate our contribution to public health, social integration, and sector-wide best practice in active travel and road safety.

Namrine Robert, Project Leader, Wheels of Welcome

Namrine Robert is Project Leader for Wheels of Welcome.

This project, funded for 12 months by the Sport England Movement Fund, provides refurbished bikes for refugees and asylum seekers in Coventry, and organises community rides and learn to ride sessions for clients.

In the first seven months the project provided 100 bikes, organised rides for 80 clients and Learn to Ride sessions for 120 clients.

Steve Proctor, Lead Volunteer, Wheels of Welcome

Steve Proctor is a former Director of TMS Consultancy, and is now Lead Volunteer at Wheels of Welcome.

Steve is an experienced cyclist and qualified ride leader and helps with the distribution of bikes to our clients. Steve also undertakes risk assessments for the Wheels of Welcome bike project.