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Charity bicycle initiative ticks all the boxes

Gary Hart August 16, 2015

A new recycling project instigated by Martlets Hospice and Brighton Station reaps great rewards.

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A perennial problem at Brighton Station has been bicycles abandoned in the station’s bicycle racks which previously had to be stored and then disposed of.

A charity partnership between the Station and the Hospice has solved this problem as abandoned bicycles, which are not reclaimed after 3 months, are now donated to the Hospice for a brand new fundraising project.

The Hospice have teamed up with RYC, Recycle Your Cycle, on an innovative new scheme whereby old bicycles are repaired and restored by local prison inmates. The reconditioned bicycles are then sold in the Martlets furniture warehouse and charity shops to raise income for their patient care.

Eve Collins, Head of Retail at Martlets Hospice, said; “This is a fantastic fundraising scheme for the Hospice. We simply collect the bicycles from Brighton Station, drop them off at RYC and local prison inmates do an excellent job of repairing and servicing them and getting them back to their former glory. The bicycles sell like hot cakes in our warehouse and shops and the last lot of bikes we picked up raised almost £700 for our patient care.”

The initiative has been a winner all round as not only does it raise funds for Martlets Hospice and solves the problem of bike storage at Brighton Station, it also gives the local prison population the opportunity to learn skills and is fantastic for the environment as the bikes are repaired and recycled rather than ending up in the scrap metal yard.

Beth Holbrook Manager of Brighton Station, added; “We are delighted to be involved in this project which has solved our storage problem and is raising money for the Martlets, one of our chosen charities. I understand the bikes sell quickly and customers are delighted to get reasonably priced bicycles. The charity partnership with Martlets has been excellent and we have raised almost £20,000 for them in the last 2 years. We know how important their vital care is in the local Brighton & Hove community and are proud to be able to continue to help them raise the money they need via this project.”

Mark Abrahams CEO of Recycle Your Cycle, concluded saying; “With this scheme, prison inmates are offered the ability to gain a valuable skill to help with their rehabilitation and future employment prospects, moreover it also enables local people to gain the social and health benefits of cycling by offering them refurbished bicycles at a competitive price.”

Pictured are Martlets retail staff with some of the latest batch of bicycles to be restored. There is a good range of bikes for adults and children and they are for sale in the Martlets Hospice Warehouse off Old Shoreham Road.

 

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