MECHANICS of the future are being tempted to pick up their tools in Penhill with the promise of their very own bicycle – if they build it themselves.

The Penhill Community Association, led by secretary Clare Foreman, has masterminded a new 10-week programme called Build-a-Bike.

Clare approached bicycle mechanic John Paine, of JohnTomJoe Charity Cycles, to see if he would be interested in leading a programme which teaches Penhill youths how to build and maintain a push-bike.

“It all came about through the power of Facebook,” said Clare. “He came in and helped with some of the maintenance on the kids’ bikes during our open day too.

“He’s really passionate about it, really keen. He wants to do more. He is already planning future programmes if this one goes well.

“Ultimately, when you look down the street near the centre (Chippenham Close Community Centre), that’s what we see, the kids on their bikes and scooters.

“Prior to speaking to John, they don’t know how to change the tyres, they just expect a new bike from mum.

“Some of them have the potential to steal a new bike. To them, their broken bike is no good any more.

“We have to make sure these kids can fix their own bikes, not just wasting what they have got.

“This is also a learning opportunity to go on to college. If they get into it, they might want to become a mechanic.”

The scheme is planned to start next Saturday, when up to 15 youngsters from Penhill will begin paying £1 per session from 11am to 2pm every week to build their own bike.

Through the work he does with JohnTomJoe, John, 51, of Hilmarton Avenue, is able to source scrapped bicycle frames, which he will bring to the centre.

From there, the children, of which 10 have already signed up, will customise and create their own bicycles to take home.

Clare has contacted Wiltshire Police too, with the hope they can attend the final class and carry out a bike marking session, so the children can identify their creations.

Swindon College has also been invited to create a certificate of some kind to document the progress and achievements the children will attain.

“When we first began telling the children about this they loved it,” said Clare. “The fact they get to keep the bike is special for them.

“They can’t quite believe they can build a bike and keep it. When I put it on Facebook I had eight kids signed up within 20 minutes.”