Active Cycles Wins Green Award at BBC Radio Lancashire Make A Difference Awards

Active Cycles, a bicycle shop located in Accrington Arndale that is dedicated to rescuing discarded bikes and saving them from landfill, achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the coveted Green Award at this year's BBC Radio Lancashire Make A Difference Awards. The award recognizes outstanding efforts in promoting environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Active Cycles, managed by the Leyland-based charity Active Lancashire, has been instrumental in breathing new life into bikes donated by Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council, the general public and landfill sites. These refurbished bicycles are then made available to the local community at affordable prices, with adult bikes priced at just £50 and children's bikes at £25. Furthermore, customers have the opportunity to pick up a new children’s bike for a discounted rate of £10 if they part-exchange an old bike at the shop.

Active Cycles extends its support to local schools, donating bikes to pupils. These donations mean that more children are able to learn how to ride a bike, thereby enabling them to become more active on their journeys to and from school, as well as in their free time.

Furthermore, in collaboration with other initiatives under the Active Lancashire umbrella, Active Cycles provides voluntary opportunities, such as teaching essential bicycle maintenance skills to boost employability and skills.

Michelle Grimes, who leads the project for Active Lancashire, expressed her joy at winning BBC award, stating, "We are delighted to have received a BBC Make a Difference Award for our work, which is saving perfectly good bikes from just ending up at a tip. We keep our costs low as we want to help as many people in the local area access and use bikes to support their health as well as encourage active travel to reduce emissions, including those who otherwise may not be able to afford to buy one."

Active Cycles exemplifies the power of community-driven initiatives in Lancashire, where passionate individuals unite to make a lasting impact on the environment and local residents' lives. Their commitment to sustainability and accessibility aligns perfectly with the core values of the Green Award.

Active Cycles was among several local heroes shortlisted as finalists in the BBC Radio Lancashire Make A Difference Awards, an initiative aimed at recognizing exceptional individuals and organizations that contribute positively to their communities.

For more information about the BBC Radio Lancashire Make A Difference Awards, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/makeadifference