We help to bridge the generation gap by delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to older members of our community using bicycles and trailers

Who we are…
8 young people

Where we’re based…
Drongan, Ayrshire, Scotland

When we started…
October 2004

How we started…
We wanted to be positive role models both for our peers and older people in our community – and help to tackle negative stereotyping of young people partly based on the high youth crime rate and unemployment in the area. In our volunteer group, the Drongan Health Initiative, we came up with the idea of promoting community spirit and a healthier approach to life through our delivery scheme.

Our work…
We visit our older customers midweek to take their orders. On Saturdays, other volunteers help us collect the fruit and veg from the shops and bag it up at the community centre before we deliver the orders. We can use the bikes during the rest of the week. The deliveries are free, and we negotiated with local shops to get the food at cost price. In winter, we include bread, milk and newspapers in the deliveries on request.

Future plans…
We are continually trying to expand and improve our service for the whole community, and organise social events to raise awareness of our work. We are planning to extend our service to include people who have recently come out of hospital.

For more information…
01292 591306
johntarlair@aol.com

“It’s great fun going on the bikes and it keeps us fit. Also it is good to build relationships with the older people in our community.”
Shaun McCluskey, 13, YOBS member