The Real Yellow Jersey
12 August 2025
Written by Paul, Bike Kitchen Manager at St Augustine’s Centre.
At St Augustine’s Centre, we know that cycling is more than just a way to get from A to B; it’s a gateway to freedom, connection, and improved mental and physical health.
This year, we are proud to celebrate one of our own, Mostafa, whose resilience and passion for cycling earned him Cycling UK’s Real Yellow Jersey.
Read his story, and learn how our Bike Kitchen continues to enrich the lives of the people we support.
What is the Real Yellow Jersey?
In professional cycling, the yellow jersey has been a symbol of the elite performers of the Tour de France since 1919. However, each year, through their Big Bike Revival programme, Cycling UK has awarded hand-knitted yellow jerseys to 10 everyday heroes who’ve transformed their lives through cycling. Acknowledging that cycling isn’t just about sport or competition but is a ‘powerful everyday activity that supports health, independence and connection’.
The yellow jerseys are knitted by the Seacroft Hookers & Knit-wits in Leeds, taking around 35 hours of knitting each.
Mostafa’s Story
Mostafa, a member of our Centre here in Halifax, was awarded a yellow jersey this year.
Mostafa arrived in the UK from Iran in 2024, alone and with limited English. The reality of starting over in a new country without knowing anyone is extremely daunting.
Mostafa connected with us here at St Augustine’s and with the support from the Big Bike Revival and our Bike Kitchen, he was offered a bike. What may seem like a simple token was, in fact, a symbol of freedom, hope, and a way to reconnect with the world around him.
Mostafa was able to freely travel to college, explore his new town of Halifax, and stay active; it helped him feel less isolated and gave him a renewed sense of purpose
“Whenever I felt anxious, low, or homesick, riding through quiet and green areas helped calm my mind, it helped me connect with my surroundings, and it was also a practical way to travel,” Mostafa says.
Through access to cycling, his physical health has also improved, easing back pain and helping him get fit. More simply, it reignited a lifelong passion for cycling, and he now rides for pleasure.
Mostafa’s story stood out to Cycling UK, and he was recently awarded his very own hand-knitted Yellow Jersey. Mostafa was invited to Westminster to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Cycling UK, and travelled there with Paul who runs St Augustine’s Centre Bike Kitchen.
Pictured here is Mostafa in his Jersey. Photo credit: Cycling UK
Click the button below to read Mostafa’s experience of visiting Westminster.
More from Mostafa and Cycling UK
Click below to watch
St Augustine’s Bike Kitchen
The Bike Kitchen is a community-powered space where staff, center members, and volunteers repair bikes, share skills, and ultimately impact lives.
Every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm, we run Bike Repair Workshops where donated bikes are brought back to life. These bikes become part of our loan fleet, supporting Centre Members with access to free and reliable transport, giving people freedom to travel and ultimately improving the physical and mental health of Centre Members.
Centre Members are encouraged to work alongside our volunteers, sharing their skills and learning how to repair bikes for themselves, for others, and even for their children. Through this hands-on approach, our bike enthusiasts build confidence and a sense of ownership. Connections develop between people, and as the Bike Kitchen has developed, so has the community of people who get involved.
We run group rides for beginners and intermediates, exploring places in Halifax like parks, colleges, and GP surgeries, all while enjoying the beauty of Calderdale
A big thank you to Cycling UK and The Big Bike Revival for recognising the great work we saw in Mostafa’s story, and for helping to fund our bike project. It’s a truly valuable asset to our centre and the members we support.
How you can get involved.
We’ve got many ways that volunteers can get involved with the Bike Kitchen.
- We are currently looking for someone with access to a van to be a volunteer driver and pick up the bike donations and equipment.
- If you have skills in bike repairs and are willing to spend some time helping in our bike kitchen, we could always do with an extra pair of hands and extra skills.
- You could donate your old bikes; the better the condition, the better for us.
- We always welcome money donations to the Centre, which could pay for extra equipment for bike repairs, snacks for our group rides, or just generally helping to keep our Centre going in many areas.
To find out more and for contact details click below.