Please note: We are not currently actively accepting volunteer applications for helping in the shop/bike church/adult programming.

Volunteering with Neighborhood Bike Works is a unique way to make a lasting difference in the lives of youth and adults in West Philadelphia. Depending on the program, you may or may not need to own a bike or know anything about bike repair; what you always need is dedication, enthusiasm, and a willingness to get a little greasy!

Volunteer Application Process

Please submit the volunteer application below. After you submit the form, you will receive an email confirmation. If our needs and your interests and availability match, we will schedule a volunteer orientation. Either way, we will do our best to get back to you within two weeks or sooner. Thanks for your interest! We appreciate your time.

Benefits of Volunteering

• We'll shower you with appreciation and connect you to a community of civically minded cyclists. Approximately 100 people volunteer with NBW annually. We make an effort to get together to share food, stories, and bike routes.

• Volunteers may utilize our shop space to work on their own bicycles and projects when it is not otherwise occupied.

• Dedicated volunteers may also enroll in our four-week adult repair classes free of charge

• Dedicated volunteers can earn a "volunteer discount" on bike parts at NBW.

Keeping Our Youth Safe

Volunteers are critical to the mission and success of Neighborhood Bike Works. In order to ensure the safety and positive experience of our students, we require volunteers who work directly with our youth to pass background clearances.

• Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) clearance. Free for volunteers. Online form.

• A Child Abuse Clearance issued by the Department of Public Welfare. Free for volunteers. Online form.

• Any volunteer that has not resided in PA continuously for the last 10 years will need to obtain an additional clearance from the FBI via a fingerprint check. $27.50 mandatory fee.

These screenings are mandatory for all volunteers with youth programs. Volunteers may not begin service until completed clearances are on file with Neighborhood Bike Works. Clearances remain valid for 60 months. Anyone who already has these screenings will need to be re-screened within 60 months of the most recent screening.

Due to the large number of volunteers at Neighborhood Bike Works, we cannot cover the fees for each and every volunteer. We respectfully request that volunteers cover the cost of these clearances independently. However, if the cost of these screenings is prohibitive or a hardship, please contact info@neighborhoodbikeworks.org to request support. We strive to make volunteer service accessible to all.