School kids ‘wheeling for joy’ with free bikes from Halfords
Kids from Middleton Primary School in South Leeds were left ‘wheeling for joy’ after receiving 20 free bikes and helmets. The bikes were donated by Halfords to help encourage more children – who may not necessarily have access to bikes – to cycle.
Penny Bullock, Acting Deputy Head at the school said:
“Our pupils were thrilled when the bikes and helmets arrived from Halfords and couldn’t wait to try them out.
“With these bikes our pupils will be able to develop their cycling skills in preparation for their bikeability training and encourage them to be more active.”
Each bike has been collected from customers who donate unwanted bikes through Halfords’ national trade-in events and has been reconditioned through a rehabilitation programme Halfords runs with Onley prison. The programme trains offenders in bike mechanic skills, giving them future employment opportunities and aiding personal development.
Halfords colleague and deliverer of the bikes, Sam Nields commented:
“We’re delighted to be able to provide bikes and helmets to local pupils in Leeds. The bikes will encourage youngsters at the school to get out on their bike, something which will hopefully develop into a life-long interest.”
In its first year, the new scheme will donate around 500 children’s bikes and new bike helmets to schools in the eight cycling cities of Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich.
Through national trade-in events Halfords has donated 7,000 adult bikes to the charity Re-Cycle, which sends unwanted bikes to people in need in Africa and teaches the skills needed for repair and maintenance for a sustainable solution.
This schools donation programme is just part of the Halfords community strategy. There are also a number of community projects that are regularly run across the UK such as free kids’ bike workshops in schools, cub groups and in store.
80 stores across the Halfords group regularly take bike donations for Re-cycle so if you have a bike that you would like to donate, please visit www.halfords.com/re-cycle1
