Dismantle Bike Rescue Workshops - Champion Centre & Westfield Park Primary School

The City of Armadale engaged Dismantle Inc. to deliver two workshops on bike maintenance and repair with young people aged 10 – 14, aligning with the City’s social priorities of youth engagement and community safety. Dismantle Inc. are a Non-For-Profit that provides support to young people through building knowledge, social skills, self-confidence, and teamwork through mentoring and mechanical skills.

Westfield Park Primary School in Camillo hosted the first workshop after school on August 16, and the Champion Centre in Seville Grove hosted the second on August 18. Thirteen keen participants attended each of the workshops, with many young people from the weekly boys’ program for Indigenous youth at the Champion Centre attending the latter session. The local Armadale Police generously donated bikes and parts for those who did not have their own to bring, who were able take a completed bike home.

Bike theft has been identified by the City as an area for improvement, which discourages this mode of transport and people leaving their bikes unattended at designated racks. General feelings of unsafety were also identified by residents, which can be improved by increased passive surveillance and activation of community spaces. Increasing the capacity for local youth to ride bikes by providing bike maintenance workshops, will increase the number of people using pump tracks and other spaces as well as increase passive surveillance.