It’s a Wheel Deal for Whiston

Undergraduates at Halewood Operations have donated five stylish BMX bikes to youngsters who are supported by Listening Ear’s Butterflies, DiAmond and Titanium services at 174 Dragon Lane, Whiston, which help children and young people affected by bereavement or other forms of loss such as divorce and family separation.

Over 100 Jaguar Land Rover undergraduates from across the UK recently attended a conference to mark the end of their placements. During the event, undergraduates worked in teams and built bikes as a team building exercise. The bikes were safety checked by professionals at the end of the session and have been donated to various charities local to Jaguar Land Rover sites.

Managers from Jaguar Land Rover with three of the lucky recipients

Tracy Allen-Lea, Listening Ear’s Head of Clinical Services said, “Jaguar Land Rover have been so supportive of our children and young people’s services over recent years. We feel so lucky to have been chosen to receive the bikes and to enable local children to benefit, it’s fantastic! The children who come for support to Listening Ear are often going through some really difficult times and I know that this will make a huge difference to those chosen. They were so happy and excited and for them to know that Jaguar Land Rover and its workforce had thought about them too is really amazing. Thank you for making unique bikes for such special and unique children.”

The bikes were presented to the children by Paula Keegan from JLR’s Learning and Development who added, “All our undergraduates worked really hard building these bikes and are very proud they’re going to special young people in our local community.”

Those who were lucky enough to receive the bikes said:

“I love the green and the skulls on the bike and can’t wait to have a ride. It’s the best bike ever!”

“Thank you to everyone at Jaguar Land Rover, I can’t wait to show my mates in school my new bike made specially for me”

“I love this bike, you’ve made me so happy! You have made it with really good brakes!”

“I’m not good at doing very much but I’m good at riding a bike!”

“I can’t believe I’m getting a bike and that I can keep it, thank you!”

Listening Ear’s Chief Executive, Richard Brown, said: “These bikes will make a difference to five lucky youngsters. We really appreciate Jaguar Land Rover’s generosity and the time put into this project by their apprentices.”

JLR also purchased cycle helmets and a set of lights for each bike, with a donation from Halewood Operations Employee Charity Fund.