Halfords in Tandem with Re~Cycle

Britain’s biggest cycle retailer joins forces with UK charity to send unwanted bikes to Africa.

Halfords CEO Matt Davies announces a link up with Re~Cycle which provides much needed, simple, affordable, transport to help communities and individuals in Africa.

Halfords aims to eventually accept donated bikes from customers through its 460 stores.

Matt Davies explains: “We wanted to find a charity partner for whom we could make a huge difference and also one that had close links with what we do as a business. Re~Cycle fits the bill 100% and in time, our partnership will mean that many more unwanted bikes get to those in need, providing an opportunity to help people in Africa improve their lives in a sustainable way.”

Merlin Matthews, the founder of Re~Cycle, adds: “We are really excited about the partnership with Halfords. It will help us access the millions of bikes sitting in sheds, bikes which will transform lives in Africa. Another benefit is to provide long term opportunities to help raise awareness of the great ways people here can very easily help those in need in Africa.”

Halfords staff will be encouraged to get involved, not only in loading containers and providing Re~Cycle with key skills to help the charity grow but also setting up schemes in Africa and fundraising for the charity.

A South African study found that children were walking 20 miles a day to get to and from school, with those who made it often falling asleep at their desks. People were walking on average for four hours a day, a fact which can be a compounded if they also suffer from malnutrition.

A bicycle can dramatically improve life by providing simple, affordable transport. It cuts travel time and increases opportunities to gain education and find work. It also has health benefits and helps transport heavy loads, like water and firewood, which previously would involve back-breaking work.

However in Africa bikes are difficult to find and expensive, while in Britain millions of them lie unused in sheds, outgrown, abandoned or replaced.

Re~Cycle has been bridging this gap since 1998 and has sent almost 45,000 bikes as well as parts and tools to Africa. Now the new partnership with Halfords promises to help transform more lives than ever:

Once the bikes arrive they are refurbished and distributed by Re~Cycle’s charity partners who also teach local people how to repair and maintain them, creating a community resource to help keep people mobile.

This new charity partnership is just one of a number of ways that Halfords is looking to create closer links with its local communities and follows the introduction of free kids bike workshops to kids aged around 8 to 10 over the Easter holidays.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information on the Halfords and Re~Cycle partnership contact: Emma Thomas, Community & CSR Manager, on 01527 513464.

Re~Cycle - www.re-cycle.org

Page specifically for the media - http://www.re-cycle.org/Media

More information is available on the free kids bike workshops at www.halfords.com/bikeclub.