There are over 6000 independent co-operatives in the UK. From football to fashion, health care to housing, community owned shops to credit unions, and wind farms to web design. Across the UK, co-operatives are owned by 15.4 million people.

In this podcast we interview Chris Tomlinson from , a workers’ co-operative that promotes cycling activities and recycles discarded bikes. Based in Stirchley, in a small shop right on the busy main road (you can hear the buses trundling past throughout the interview) Birmingham Bike Foundry offers cycle maintenance training to members of the public, schools and businesses, workshop repairs, wheel building and a tool club. The aim is to make a healthy, fun, affordable and environmentally friendly means of transport and leisure available to as many people as possible. Members believe that cycling is an empowering activity that is part of the solution to Birmingham’s transport and health challenges.

Stirchley has become home to a number of creative and community led initiatives in recent years including ,  and . In this interview I talk to Chris about the work of the Birmingham Bike Foundry, cooperatives and their place in the community.