June 2021

Vercity supports Lifecycle Project

Miki Klaskala, General Manager at Southmead Hospital, tells us about this great initiative where Vercity staff are helping to support the communities that we work in.

The ‘Lifecycle Project’ demonstrates an excellent partnership between InfraRed, Bouygues and Vercity. The project engages a variety of stakeholders in reconditioning bikes and donating them to key workers and pupils.

“It was so upsetting having my bike stolen after a night shift. I was devastated. I’m able to cycle to work again, it’s my only bit of peace and quiet”.

Georgina Brett, A&E Nurse

On Saturday, 10th April at Southmead Hospital, the team were delighted to donate ten reconditioned bikes to the Trust’s staff. The Project Manager from Lifecycle UK, recruited by InfraRed to lead on this initiative, led the afternoon. Senior representatives from the Hospital Trust, Project Company, Vercity and Bouygues, were also on hand on the day to chat all things bike!

This scheme collects donated bikes that are no longer used or wanted, then local businesses and social enterprises recondition the bikes before donating them back to the community. The initiative encourages cycling and sustainable travel as well as supporting the physical and mental well-being agenda.

So far, the initiative has been piloted at Southmead, Peterborough and West Middlesex Hospitals and proved to be very successful with several reconditioned bikes given new homes. Going forward, the scheme will aim to involve prison bike workshops to recondition the bikes and support the rehabilitation process. To date, this has not been possible due to the pandemic.

The bikes are matched with individuals who had previously registered their interest in the scheme and needed a bike. The scheme outreach will be extended going forward and include more locations across the country, fulfilling the needs of key workers and children who really need a bike.

With InfraRed and Bouygues, Vercity developed the ‘Lifecycle Project’, sourcing second-hand bikes from our staff. They are refurbished and donated to NHS keyworkers. We donated 927 bikes in 2020. Working with Department of Work & Pensions and H.M. Prison Services to develop this initiative created a ‘circular economy’ upskilling prison leaver whilst creating sustainable transport and promoting health and wellbeing to key workers.