Get A Grip
This project is aimed at a targeted group of young people aged 12-25. Workshops endeavour to engage a group of up to 5 youth, often identified by another service (eg. mental health service, NDIS, Police, youth program) considered as ‘at-risk’. Get A Grip workshops are either centred around bicycle riding activities or bicycle mechanics. The aim of Get A Grip is to engage youth in pro-social activities and learn new skills, in turn building on their self-confidence and physical, social and mental wellbeing.
If the workshop has a mechanic focus, participants are engaged to work on bicycles and learn basic skills of how to fix and maintain a bicycle. Each session, two facilitators (Duane & Charlotte) support a group of identified young people to work on bicycles, providing them with a safe space for the duration of the session. Depending on the structure of the project, participants have the option to completely pull apart a bicycle, paint it and rebuild it over time (usually over a course of weeks-months) or repair the bicycle within one session and keep it, along with a helmet.
During Get A Grip mechanic sessions, various introductory skills are taught, including how to:
change a tube and employ triple layered protection (new tube, old tube & sealant) to ensure the bicycle goes the distance
replace or repair other small parts, if applicable (seat, grips, bells, cranks, pedals, cables, derailleurs, bottom brackets, chains, etc.)
tune the gears and brakes and repair any issues, if applicable
give the bicycle a safety check and test ride the bicycle safely
work on a bicycle as a group and do so safely
know what each tool is used for and how to use it correctly
If the workshop has a riding focus, participants are supplied with a high-quality mountain bicycle (MTB) and safety equipment for the day. Participants are lead on a supervised bicycle ride somewhere in/around Alice Springs/Mparntwe or remote Central Australia. Location is decided prior and an assessment of participant skill level is done before commencing the ride; this ensures the group is capable of completing the route. Each session has two facilitators (Duane & Charlotte) who support a group of 5 young people on the ride, providing them with a safe space to spend time outdoors in the community. Participants will learn basic riding skills and be provided with the opportunity to enhance their skills where appropriate.
During Get A Grip riding sessions, various skills are taught, including how to:
wear and fit a helmet safely
set up and choose a bicycle to suit participant size
test ride the bicycle, ensuring it is safe to ride & use
ride safely as a group
ride safely on dirt/paved paths and/or green MTB trails
if appropriate - how to learn more advanced skills (eg. tricks, specific MTB skills etc)
Get A Grip has been delivered with Alice Springs Youth Justice Centre, Owens Springs School, MacDonnell Regional Council - MacYouth, NT Health and Arrente Community Boxing Academy
