Cambridge students donate more than 40 bikes to Recycles scheme
published on 16 Jul 2021
Students at Wolfson College, Cambridge, have mobilised to collect and donate students’ bikes at the end of their university courses, to give new life to their pre-loved bikes and provide vital resources for The Salvation Army.
Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) was approached by Else Ellermann, a student at Wolfson College and a member of the Global Shapers Community, to form the partnership in June.
Else said: “We wanted to give students a chance to donate their old, broken or unwanted bikes before heading home after the exam period; especially as Cambridge is known to be Britain’s every-day cycling capital, it seemed very fitting to pass on iconic symbols of our city’s transport to a worthy cause.”
More than 40 bikes were donated to Recycles, a Salvation Army social enterprise that creates opportunities for people who have experienced homelessness, and gives them a new project and motivation for a better future.
There are several Recycles partnerships in the UK, including the flagship operation in Swindon, and two are part of The Salvation Army donation centres in Hull and Chesterfield. All of the bikes will be safety-checked and repaired by our fully trained mechanics in Hull and Chesterfield, ready to be sold at an affordable price.
Gareth Samuel, Development Support Co-ordinator at SATCoL said: “Recycles is a great scheme and gives preloved bikes a second lease of life and offers them back into the community. The donations from the wonderful students at Wolfson College means our customers can get great quality bicycles at an affordable price, while raising vital funds that help The Salvation Army’s work.
“The Recycles scheme in our donation centres gives an opportunity for someone who may be retired, unemployed or simply have an interest in bikes, to work and gain skills, and have the opportunity to teach and pass on those skills to help others.
“We are very thankful to all of the students at Wolfson College for their bike donations and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.”
