Phase 2 of Bikes to Africa!  Gala Christian Centre teams with Reiver Industries

Gala Christian Centre continues with bikes to Africa and an expansion of involvement here in the Borders with Reiver Industries in Tweedbank.  Reiver Industries, who support adults with learning difficulties through work-based training, played a huge part in helping to repair the first batch of bikes to Northern Ghana in Africa.  Reiver Industries, with no capital outlay, mechanically refurbished and repaired the bikes, and aside from puncture patches and lubricants, used spare parts from the huge bicycle collection here in the Borders.  (Some of the bicycles donated were not in the best of condition so they became spare parts!)  

Aside from helping the “Getting Africa on its wheels” project by Gala Christian Centre, Reiver Industries will also be involved in their own ‘recycling bicycles’ projects, turning their attention to the Borders with bicycle donations in such projects as Cycle Proficiency, Women’s Aid, Cycling for health, bicycle maintenance programs, Adult training,  bike exchange bike4bikes, and helping people and groups here in the Borders as well as overseas projects. 

Not all of the bicycles donated will go to Africa.  Some will stay here in the Borders for the above mentioned projects, some may be useable for spare parts and those that are a collectibles or racing bikes may be sold to finance the shipping costs to Africa. The bikes that are most useable are the mountain bikes which suit Africa terrain. The consideration of involvement by other groups is also a possibility. It would be great to involve any groups in spray painting that would benefit by involving their members or students.  Presently Gala Christian Centre needs to collect an additional 80 -100 bicycles as well as funds for shipping to complete the 2^nd shipment to Africa. The groups are also looking for a new place to house the bikes, so are very interested in a large unused barn or warehouse room to store the bikes in the Galashiels area.  We are so appreciative of the storage given to us by Andrew Grant and Riddell Farms, but looking to get storage to Galashiels area. 

Donations for shipping can be made to Gala Christian Centre or Reiver Industries. 

Reiver will do the collection of any bicycle donations for both Africa and the expansion of  bicycle recycling here in the Borders.  If you have a bicycle collection please call John or Trevor at Reiver Industries  at 01896-758 -381.   For other information please call Rev. John Blair at 01896 752099