Eddy's Good News: XO Bikes scheme giving people and bikes a second chance

Virgin Radio

1 Feb 2024, 15:26

Every day during his show on Virgin Radio Anthems, Eddy Temple-Morris brings you Good News stories from around the world, to help inject a bit of positivity into your day!

Be sure to listen each day between 2pm and 6pm (Monday - Friday) to hear Eddy's Good News stories (amongst the finest music of course), but if you miss any of them you can catch up on the transcripts of Eddy's most recent stories below:

Thursday 1st February 2023

I do love a rehabilitation story, people being given a second chance and then using that in the most positive way.

There’s something very wonderful about the turnaround that people can make when given that chance and that’s something that Stef Jones knows very well. He started a bike company called XO Bikes in South London. XO stands for Ex Offenders, whom Stef and his co-founder hire and train to restore thrown away or second hand bikes and paint them in their signature ‘swag black’ matt paint.

The goal is to stop re-offending and two inspiring years in, it’s working! “We take a bike with a past and a bloke with a past, and together with the customer we give them both a future,” says Stef, whose nickname is ‘The Bike Geezer’. “We’re a purpose with a business. Our purpose, and our product if you like, is a guy that never goes back to prison. He just happens to find his way out by becoming a bike mechanic, or a bike retailer or a cycle marketeer.” Love it. Stef you’re a hero and I say “chapeau Sir”!

Via: positive.news