In the UK, thousands of bikes are thrown away or lie unused in sheds and garages, while many people in Africa have no access to transport of any kind.
Merlin Matthews set up Re~Cycle: Bikes to Africa in 1998 to establish a bike re-use project collecting quality bikes from the UK, with the aim of sending them to partner organisations in Africa where local mechanics were trained to refurbish and maintain the bikes.
On the Isle of Wight, Tony Harman set up a local collection scheme to take unwanted bikes from the Island to the charity’s headquarters in Colchester.
In 2014, after Tony’s untimely death, Sue Bailey stepped into the voluntary role of coordinating the collection, preparation and delivery of bikes from the Isle of Wight.
Sue said:
“We have taken over fifteen hundred bikes to Re~Cycle in Colchester, since I took over.
"For some people living in parts of rural Africa, the average time spent walking to school, work, or collecting water can be four hours a day so it feels like we will have made a significant difference to many people’s lives.
"But now I am looking for someone to pass the baton on to. I feel Re~Cycle Isle of Wight needs someone with fresh energy and ideas to take the reins."
If you think this sounds like something you could do, email re-cycle-isle-of-wight@hotmail.com and Sue can contact you to explain what the voluntary role involves.
Re-Cycle has been sending bikes to Africa for 25 years and has sent over 130,000 bikes and hundreds of thousands of spare parts.
More information about the charity and its partners in Africa is available online.
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