New Bristol BMX bike club hopes to ‘break down the divide between class and age in the local community’

The organiser of a new BMX club in south Bristol says he hopes to break down the divide between class and age in the local community.

Matt Thorne is behind the Stockwood Community Bike Club, which was started in 2022 at the site of the bike park behind the allotments on Whittock Road.

The project was funded by Access Sport CIO as part of its wider BMX Bristol project, and built by Velo Solutions, with support from Stockwood councillor Graham Morris.

As part of the work of Access Sport CIO, funding has been achieved to launch and equip the new community club to help combat many local issues such as anti-social behaviour, class divides and as a means to bridge generational gaps to create a more inclusive community in the Stockwood area.

The community club is a place for people of all ages and abilities to get out into the fresh air and have a great time whilst being active at the same time.

Matt says: “The club is open to all and there is no need to book sessions, you just turn up and get involved. Sessions run every Saturday 11am to 1pm and session updates can be found on the group’s facebook page.

“The club hopes to break down the divide between class and age in the local community and create a valuable asset run by the community, for the community.

“It is a place to get active, have fun and meet new people. There is no target age group and everybody is welcome, we even have great volunteers that are more than happy to help with bike repairs should you need a hand fixing your bike, we have all the tools here ready to go.”

Matt adds that the club hopes to keep children and young people in the area busy and off the streets.

“We want to keep all members of the community mobile and active through our volunteers work to assist with bike repairs and create a hub for social and mental health peer support.

“The club also acts as an additional port of call in relation to safeguarding and protecting children in the locality, keeping everybody safe all through a fun and engaging initiative.”

Stockwood Community Bike Club is hosting an open day for the community at the bike park on Whittock Road this Saturday (March 25) and it’s open to all, from 11am-2pm.

As well as an open container full of bikes and boards, there will be free coaching, music and an ice cream van.