The charity http://www.helprefugees.org.uk has put out the call for bike mechanics to come help sort out a load of bikes donated at their Calais warehouse: https://twitter.com/rosemctweets/status/805330058525208576

From Rose, their logistics manager:

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We have approximately 40 bikes in need of repair and a handful of kids bikes. Currently they are broken and taking up much needed space in our warehouse which we would love to use for goods such as tents and bedding to be sent out to meet immediate demand.

Once fixed the bikes will be used in one of two ways:

1) Directly to the refugee community as appropriate, focusing on many who have been resettled in a university scheme in Lille.

2) Indirectly: To long term volunteers who live here in Calais and are the pillars that keep this operation working. The majority of us live in static caravans 5 miles from the warehouse, bikes are great for independent transport and thinking space before and after long days helping out

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That's the story. These funds will pay for the last-minute channel tunnel ticket for the MPV carrying people and tools/spares, plus diesel. Not glamorous I know, but you'll be helping get hands on bikes in Calais, within the refugee community in France, and by extension making their and the lives of the amazing Help Refugees volunteers much easier / more productive.

Any leftover cash will go into a longer-term pot to fund a permanent workshop setup.

We are also after donations of mudguards, rear racks, panniers and AA/AAA-powered lights - please contact Mike @tweetymike if you are near London / Hampshire and can donate.