Help turn e-cargo bike into OMG mobile Café

Hi there,

My name is Hendrik Klaver and together with Mavis and a team of wonderful people, I lead OMG Malton. We love to bless our community with initiatives such as the Free Pop Up Shop for families, the Parents Chat, Chill and Play Space we recently started for young families and other free activities such as the Family Bible Adventures where people find Christian community and are able to explore faith in today's world.

The Foodhall project in Sheffield was looking for a new owner for one of their cargo bikes and decided to sell it to us significantly below market value as they were keen to see it used again in a community project. I am really excited we have been able to purchase this nearly new Urban Arrow Cargo XL e-cargo bike with the help of the Mulitiply Project of the Diocese of York.

We are keen to start using this cargo bike on a regular basis and use it to be able to offer free coffee and tea in places where people are “on the go” but can have a break with us, such as the school run or local events. We see the bike primarily as a vehicle for conversation as people meet “OMG on the go”, but as the project develops we anticipate it will also help some people connect with the Christian faith as people get to know us. In addition, the cargo bike can also be used to transport anything needed for OMG activities as OMG “inhabits” different spaces in the community for different activities. For example, it would be helpful to support the Free Pop up Shop for Families (twice a year).

We committed ourselves to raising £1000, allowing us to get everything we need to get the bike fit for purpose. I (Hendrik) will be cycling the Cargo bike over 2 days from Sheffield to Malton which is 88 miles (142 km). On Saturday 23rd September I will cycle the bike into the Diocese of York where we will be welcomed by the Benefice of Carlton and Drax. The following day (Sunday 24th September) I will be part of a Church service in Drax and then I will cycle from there to Sand Hutton - greeted on the way in Barlby by bishop John (Bishop of Selby) who is also known as 'the cycling bishop'. Sand Hutton is the place where the cargo bike enters the Deanery of Southern Ryedale and the cargo bike and team will be greeted by Sue Teal who is the Lay Area Dean of Southern Ryedale. From there we will make the journey to Malton through the Howardian Hills taking a break in Westow.

Every donation you give, will be invested into this cargo bike, whether it is towards a thermos flask to serve coffee, the servicing of the cargo bike or something else! Our finances are safely managed by the Treasurer of St Michaels Church and it is possible to gift aid your donation. As we are fundraising through the Wonderful platform, all transaction and administration costs are covered by sponsors allowing all the proceeds to go to this project.

Thank you so much for your support!