A Cwmbran teenager has earned professional bicycle repair qualifications while volunteering at a Torfaen project that will close at the end of the month.
Seventeen‑year‑old Tyler Preece, a former Croesyceiliog School pupil, began volunteering at Changing Gearz in May 2025. The Griffithstown‑based workshop is part of Torfaen Council’s Inspire programme, which supports young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Changing Gearz trains 11-19‑year‑olds in bike maintenance and repair while restoring donated bikes to be sold on.
Tyler’s natural ability in the workshop led to him completing two professional courses with Velotech Cycling Ltd, including ‘gold’ and ‘professional’ awards.
But the Inspire programme -including Changing Gearz- will close on 31 March 2026 after funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund comes to an end.
The project had been due to shut last year but was extended for 12 months while the council developed a new “community‑focused” model, including two smaller bike‑skills projects in Cwmbran and Blaenavon. Four staff members are now at risk of redundancy.
Remarkable progress
Kevin Weaver, the council’s Inspire programme transition officer, said Tyler’s progress had been remarkable.
“Everybody loves him. His work rate is phenomenal,” he said. “He’s done his professional certificate, which is one of the highest bike qualifications you can get in Britain. I’ve been in this game for 30 years and he is one of the best case studies I have ever seen. There’s nothing he can’t do.”
He estimated that around 70 NEET young people were being supported each week.
Tyler said the project had transformed his confidence and given him structure.
“Changing Gearz has brought me through a lot, especially with the courses,” he said.
‘Built my confidence’
“When I first came here, I didn’t want to do it all. I built my confidence and started learning.
“The fact I’m not on the streets. It’s the fact I can go out in the morning down to the workshop, and just work and it keeps this [taps his head] occupied, keeps my mind occupied, it doesn’t overthink things. That’s what I love about it.”
A Torfaen Council spokesperson said: “The majority of funding came from the Shared Prosperity Fund which ends in March.
‘New delivery model’
“The Changing Gearz project was due to close last year; however, we were able to extend the project by a further year to support the service transition into a new delivery model.
“Work has also been undertaken to avoid the duplication of preventative services and activities in order to ensure that suitable support can continue to be provided.
“Smaller-scale bike maintenance skills projects are being developed in Coed Eva and in Blaenavon and have a community-focused approach, in line with the Torfaen Deal.
“The new service will have a greater preventative focus as it will aim to work with younger children and young people.
“Whilst Inspire ends, some of the team will continue working with young people identified of being at risk of NEET and our Youth service will continue to work with young people in schools and within broader youth service activity.
“Key workers will be allocated to young people based on levels of need. We aim to have a greater preventative focus in the longer term, in line with the objectives of the Deal and the Marmot principles.
Redundancies
“There were four employees identified as being at risk and have been issued with notices of redundancy. The staff affected are being supported through the process, including exploring any suitable redeployment opportunities available within the organisation.”
Cwmbran Life asked the council how the young people currently supported by the project will continue to receive help once it closes.
The council spokesperson said: “If a young person is identified as at risk of becoming NEET, support will include support provided initially by or through the respective school, where there is a referral to the prevention hub support could include:
- Community provision where it exists and appropriate, alongside any formal support
- TVA for volunteering
- Complex team
- Employment and Skills support
“A budget to look at wider delivery activities and support for young people will also be available to the prevention team.”