Children get on two wheels thanks to firm
A total of 75 schoolchildren from Birmingham are receiving a two-wheeled surprise this week after Kwik Fit donated bicycles to pupils at 10 different primary and secondary schools across the city.
The company, which is the largest automotive servicing and repair chain in the UK, temporarily switched its focus from engines to pedals. Staff attending the company’s annual conference at the NEC took time out of their day to assemble the bicycles, the first of which were then presented to children and representatives from the schools. The remaining bikes will be delivered to the schools over the coming days.
The schools had been identified by Birmingham City Council’s Big Birmingham Bikes project as those where a gift of a free bike would be of most benefit to their pupils. The schools are in some of the most deprived areas of the city and cycling officers from the city council believe providing free bikes will help encourage greater levels of activity and fitness amongst children.
John Carrigan, project manager of Big Birmingham Bikes, says the donation is a very welcome gesture. He said: “We are doing everything we can to encourage a greater level of cycling in the city so we were delighted when Kwik Fit approached us with this incredibly generous offer. We thank Kwik Fit on behalf of all the schools and the children who are going to benefit from the hard work of the Kwik Fit staff at their conference.”
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit said: “We had a lot of fun on the day, taking on the role of bike mechanics. We have around 20 centres in and around the city and the team in each one really care about their local community. When they learned that the bikes were being donated to children across Birmingham our staff realised just what an impact they could have, and it was quite an emotional moment when the first of the bikes was handed over.”
Through Kwik Fit’s relationship with Michelin, the bikes chosen are a variety of Raleigh models for both boys and girls, ranging in size from 10-14 years old. The schools receiving the bikes are:
• Ark Tindal Primary Academy
• Cromwell Junior and Infant School
• Hunters Hill Technology College
• St. Matthew’s Church of England Primary School
• The Oaks Primary Academy
• The Orchards Primary Academy
• Reaside Academy
• Regents Park Community Primary School
• Ward End Primary School
• Warren Farm Primary School
• Woodcock Hill Primary School
***A photo from the NEC handover is available for media use from the Birminghamnewsroom Flickr feed
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Kwik Fit
Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.
About Big Birmingham Bikes
Big Birmingham Bikes is an initiative created by Birmingham City Council that will see 3,000 bikes given away to residents living in priority postcode areas of the city, who would otherwise not be able to afford or access cycling as a mode of transport. A further 2,000 bikes are being made available for loan at a network of cycle hubs created across the city. Big Birmingham Bikes is part of the wider Birmingham Cycle Revolution initiative that aims to improve cycling infrastructure and facilities so participation increases from the current position of less than 2 per cent of all journeys being taken by bike up to 10 per cent by 2033.
For further information please contact:
For Kwik Fit:
Ollie Lindrup / Amrit Nijjer
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: 020 7638 9571
For Big Birmingham Bikes:
Kris Kowalewski
Birmingham City Council
Tel: 0121 303 3621
Kris.Kowalewski@birmingham.gov.uk
