Army Reserves help to keep the cycle going with generous donation to West Lothian Bike Library
Army reservists based in Livingston have ensured more people in the area can get on their bikes, with a donation to a not-for-profit organisation in the town.
The soldiers from 278 (Lowland) Battery, part of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, handed over 10 bikes to the West Lothian Bike Library.
West Lothian Bike Library is a community interest company that's dedicated to supporting healthier living, sustainable travel and making cycling accessible to all regardless of age or ability.
The bike library supports people across the region by providing access to bikes for health, transport, and recreation, especially to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
They offer a range of services to promote cycling in the community, including a selection of reconditioned bikes, and affordable bike servicing and repairs, ensuring that cyclists can keep their bikes in excellent condition without breaking the bank.
The 10 bikes were donated as part of a wider community engagement effort by the Army Reserve unit, which is based in Beveridge Square, Livingston. The West Lothian Bike Library was delighted to receive the contribution.
Sergeant Scott Urban, Regimental Mentoring Support Officer for 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, said: "This initiative was part of our continued effort to give back to the communities we serve and reflects the values of teamwork, service and social responsibility that are central to the Army Reserve.
'As Reservists we take great pride in supporting our local communities. This donation to the West Lothian Bike Library is a small way of giving back and helping those who benefit from the fantastic work the organisation does."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
14-06-2025
- BBC News
Sutton Coldfield Sikh memorial founder 'elated' by King's honour
A man who established the UK's first memorial to Sikhs who served in both world wars has been recognised for his voluntary work in the King's Birthday Honours Jagjit Singh Sohal from Sutton Coldfield has been appointed an OBE for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers who served Great founded the World War One Sikh Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2015, and has since contributed to other local monuments for Sikhs - promoting their roles in past said he was "humbled and elated" by the news, adding that it had been "the honour of my life" to commemorate Sikhs who so that their memory lives on forevermore". "The valour of the Sikhs in particular inspired me to join the Army Reserve, to deploy on operations and fight for my country and create the national WW1 Sikh Memorial," the 42-year-old said."My hope is that young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds like mine are inspired by those who serve, to take a stand for the freedoms we cherish today."Mr Sohal said he had also created and delivered educational programmes and events for people from diverse backgrounds to learn more about the Sikh contribution during the wars and continued service in modern 2017, he said he was invited to join the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's charitable foundation and earlier this year represented it at the unveiling of a new memorial to African Labourers from Cape Town, in South Africa, at Coventry Cathedral for VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations. Other Staffordshire honours recipients include:Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramicsSean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the CrownMichael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining communityDr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to educationProf Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher educationRachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association footballJohn Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science educationSaffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sportGraham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charityGareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to educationElisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careGavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careAndrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StaffordshireValerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StonnallTracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
NBC News
14-06-2025
- NBC News
He chose to serve longer in the Army. Now he's saddled with $40,000 in moving costs.
Charles Levine was blindsided in February when he was about to retire from the Army and found out it would not cover more than $40,000 in final moving costs — an end-of-service benefit given to retirees. The lieutenant colonel had served for 30 years, deploying five times and leading an airborne infantry company in Iraq and Afghanistan. But because he chose to continue serving after he was eligible to retire in 2022, he was stripped of moving and storage perks promised to nearly every retired soldier. 'It was a broken promise,' Levine, 59, said. 'I was incredulous.' News of the noncoverage delivered a sharp emotional sting and a financial gut punch. Levine and his wife, Ginger, were relying on the benefit. They have been renting an apartment in Charlottesville, Virginia, for $2,800 a month, thinking the military would help them vacate their on-post housing at West Point, the military academy in New York. By the couple's estimates, it would cost at least $42,000 to pack, transport and store a lifetime of belongings themselves, so they feel stuck at West Point, paying another $4,400 a month for rent. 'We cannot afford to move and we cannot afford to stay,' Ginger said. To save money, Ginger, 53, has been driving around, scrounging up used cardboard boxes and paper from new neighbors, while 'feeling humiliated that this is how our service ends.' Levine said he had a fulfilling career. But when he thinks about the toll the last few months has taken on him and his wife of 18 years, he questions his choice to stay longer in the military. 'That's the one thing that rises to the level where perhaps I did make a mistake,' he said. Levine served in the National Guard from 1995 to 2001, when, three months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he started active duty in the Army. During the next 21 years, he crawled through enemy caves; participated in more than two dozen air assaults looking for Taliban-captured soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was in his battalion; rose to battalion executive officer; and earned several medals, including three Bronze Stars. In that time, back home, he missed the entirety of his first year of marriage, many holidays, the birth of his first grandchild, the death of his father-in-law, and all of his son's high school football games. "We've given everything we have," said Levine, who spent the last six years of his service teaching calculus to cadets at West Point. In fall 2022, Levine had served the maximum number of years in active duty and could retire. But, he said, senior Army Reserve leaders convinced him to transition to the Reserve and continue teaching at West Point instead. Levine officially separated from active duty and went on to teach for two more years as part of the Army Reserve. Just before he officially retired from the military in March, he learned he had lost the moving benefits. 'We were told, without warning, that our family would not receive any support for our final move,' Ginger said. 'No shipment of household goods, no storage, and no recognition of the circumstances.' In a statement, Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard, an Army spokesperson, said soldiers like Levine who choose to be released from active duty after at least 20 years of service, deferring retirement to continue working for the Reserve, have about six months to use their moving benefits. Those who elect to retire from active duty have three years. To guide their decision-making, Howard said the Army provides soldiers with 'significant resources, education and support,' including transition assistance programs across the country. 'Transitioning Soldiers must weigh their options, and associated advantages and disadvantages to make the best decision for their circumstances,' Howard said in his statement. Levine said he did not choose to be released from active duty and was instead involuntarily separated, which he said should have afforded him moving benefits for three years. Levine, a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University and a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia, also said a section of the regulation allows those who pursue advanced education four years to move. The Army said soldiers who leave active duty and join the Reserve are not considered involuntarily separated, but Levine said his separation papers show otherwise. After fighting their case for more than three months, the Levines have reached their breaking point. They've decided to dip into their savings to move themselves, fearing they were already wasting so much money paying two rents. 'I broke,' Ginger said. 'I was emotionally broken.' The couple crunched estimates from multiple moving and storage companies. On the low end, if they pack themselves, they'd pay about $42,000 out of pocket. Their regular income is the roughly $5,000 Levine gets each month from his pension, and the severance Ginger has until the end of September after resigning from her federal job. 'For the first time in our life, we have debt now,' Levine said. He thinks back to the sheer happiness and pride he felt in February during his retirement ceremony. A retired four-star general flew in from the Middle East to preside over the event, and Levine was celebrated for his feats while surrounded by loved ones and senior leaders. 'It was amazing. I was dreading leaving. I felt really fulfilled,' he said. 'All those things went away and evaporated.'
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
Army Reserves help to keep the cycle going with generous donation to West Lothian Bike Library
They were handed over as part of a wider community engagement effort Army reservists based in Livingston have ensured more people in the area can get on their bikes, with a donation to a not-for-profit organisation in the town. The soldiers from 278 (Lowland) Battery, part of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, handed over 10 bikes to the West Lothian Bike Library. West Lothian Bike Library is a community interest company that's dedicated to supporting healthier living, sustainable travel and making cycling accessible to all regardless of age or ability. The bike library supports people across the region by providing access to bikes for health, transport, and recreation, especially to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. They offer a range of services to promote cycling in the community, including a selection of reconditioned bikes, and affordable bike servicing and repairs, ensuring that cyclists can keep their bikes in excellent condition without breaking the bank. The 10 bikes were donated as part of a wider community engagement effort by the Army Reserve unit, which is based in Beveridge Square, Livingston. The West Lothian Bike Library was delighted to receive the contribution. Sergeant Scott Urban, Regimental Mentoring Support Officer for 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, said: "This initiative was part of our continued effort to give back to the communities we serve and reflects the values of teamwork, service and social responsibility that are central to the Army Reserve. 'As Reservists we take great pride in supporting our local communities. This donation to the West Lothian Bike Library is a small way of giving back and helping those who benefit from the fantastic work the organisation does."
