Bike donation day

Published Monday 18 March, 2024
Last updated on Monday 18 March, 2024

Help give your unwanted bicycles a new lease on life at a bike donation day being hosted by the Sittingbourne Rotary Club and Swale Borough Council.

The Cycle-re-Cycle programme have teamed up with the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta to save bikes from ending up in the tip or just rotting away in gardens, sheds and garages.

People are being asked to drop their unwanted bikes off at Swale House Car Park on Saturday 23 March between 10am to 2pm.  

The Swale Cycle-re-Cycle programme is a partnership between the council, HMP Swaleside and the Canterbury Bike Project.

HMP Swaleside inmates refurbish unwanted bikes, while working towards qualifications including the City & Guilds in Bike Mechanics, giving inmates the opportunity to upskill themselves and make a positive step toward rehabilitation.

The programme provides residents with affordable, environmentally friendly transportation, that keeps them active and healthy.

The council funded the initial supply of bike parts and workshop consumables while Canterbury Bike Project trained an instructor to deliver the City & Guilds qualification.

The bikes are sold on for just £10 through local community groups, making the scheme self-funding and sustainable.

If you can’t make the donation day there is a bike donation point, for roadworthy bikes – two wheels and two brakes – along with new or good condition used parts, at Sheerness Household Waste Recycling Centre.  

Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said:  

“Cycle-re-Cycle is an exciting partnership between us, Canterbury Bike Project and HMP Swaleside and we are grateful to be a part of it.

“The programme saves bikes from the tip, offers people a cheap and environmentally friendly transportation option, and also helps with the rehabilitation of inmates.  

“Getting people out of cars and onto bikes is a great way to reduce our Borough’s carbon footprint and Cycle-re-Cycle removes the financial barrier which might stop some people from making the change.

“Even just replacing a few journeys with a cycle can make a big difference.  

“If you have unwanted bicycles, please drop them off at our donation day and help both the inmates and those in need of affordable transportation.”

Penny Twaites, the Environment Lead for the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta, said:

“We are very pleased to be running the Bike Donation Day, as part of Swale’s imaginative and valuable Cycle Re-Cycle initiative.  

“Our club is always looking for ways to help in the community and this a great chance to do just that”.

For more information on Rotary locally, visit the Invicta Rotary website.