WheelsForGood News & Media Centre

Easi-Drive Supports Wheely Good Local Cause

2010-08-23T10:01:00.002+01:00

Wythenshawe-based accident management company, Easi-Drive has committed to donating funds up to £15,000 over the course of the next three years to local community group, Wythenshawe Wheelers.

The company, based on Sharston Industrial Estate, has chosen the club as a beneficiary of its community giving programme, WheelsforGood.

It has pledged to purchase key equipment and improve the general facilities at the South Manchester club, which focuses on offering cycling to people with a disability.

WheelsforGood was the brainchild of managing director, Simon Bellamy and looks to reward charities and good causes in the areas in which the business operates.

To mark the launch of the partnership, 13 workers from Easi-Drive swapped their day jobs for a 50-mile bike ride from Manchester to Chester recently, pedalling up an impressive £1,200 in sponsorship money!

The funds raised will be used to purchase a children’s quad bike. In addition Easi-Drive has just purchased a KMX Tornado bike for the club. Similar to a BMX model, the KMX is designed for thrill seekers.

Wythenshawe Wheelers owns over 70 specially adapted bikes and runs four sessions a week from its facility in South Manchester. Members travel from as far a-field as Chester, Crewe and Bury to the club at Wythenshawe Park.

On the partnership, Sue Blaylock, founder of Wythenshawe Wheelers said: “We are so grateful to Easi-Drive for its commitment – we are in desperate need of new equipment including safety gear such as helmets and are keen to improve our basic facilities such as bathrooms. Its support will transform the whole experience for our members. I would like to extend personal thanks to the group of 13 who took part in the gruelling bike ride recently.”

Simon Bellamy from Easi-Drive added: “This is such a fantastic cause for us to be associated with and we are delighted to have joined forces with Sue and her team of volunteers. The service it provides is truly inspiring and really makes a difference to people’s lives – we have seen it first hand.

He continued: “The employees are really getting behind this cause and there are a number of fundraising activities planned over the next 6 months including a walk up Kinder Scout in the Peak District.”

Easi-Drive encourages applications for funding from charities and community groups across the region. If you are interested in applying, please visit the website at http://www.wheelsforgood.com/ for more information or to submit an application.

Easi-Drive funds school build in Africa

2010-08-06T10:03:00.003+01:00

EasiDrive’s community investment project WheelsforGood has funded the build of a much needed senior school in Kenya.

Children between the ages of 12 and 16 will travel up to 30 kilometres to the school which has been built in the Lenkisem region. The facility officially opened its doors a couple of weeks ago and has already started teaching year 1 students.

The build houses two classrooms and a teacher’s room. Positioned next to the school is a catholic mission with a number of dormitories, where pupils will be able to board – this facility is vital as children in the area travel such huge distances to get to school.

Linda and Rod Bellamy of Easi-Drive are due to travel to Kenya in October of this year for the official opening ceremony of the school.

Commenting Linda said: “This really has been the most fantastic project to be involved in – a complete eye opener. We have watched the school being built over the last 18 months. With every visit we never fail to be impressed by the children’s and volunteers’ spirit.

She continued: “We are very much looking forward to the trip later in the year to join the locals to celebrate the official opening.

Blackpool Olympic Hopeful Scores a Try With Easi-Drive

2010-06-23T12:47:00.000+01:00

Lytham St Annes teenager, Myles Pearson, was celebrating this week after receiving a sporting bursary from leading north west based accident management company, Easi-Drive.
Seventeen-year-old, wheel chair rugby player Myles has received £500 from the Manchester based company’s community giving fund, WheelsforGood.

Myles who is studying for a BTec in Sports Science at the Cardinal Newman College, Preston, plays wheelchair rugby for the West Coach Crash team and has been earmarked by GB Wheelchair rugby for the 2016 Paralympics.

A natural sportsman, Myles only started playing rugby 18 months ago. Before that he was an avid tennis player and was ranked 7th in the UK and 21st in the World in his age category.

A delighted Myles said I want to say a huge thank you to Easi-Drive for its help. I am using the money to buy a new wheel for my wheelchair! It means that I can now compete in the rugby league final at the end of June at Stoke Mandeville – which I am terribly excited about.”

Commenting on the donation, Simon Bellamy MD of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 listed company said: “Myles is inspirational and we are delighted to be in the position to be able to assist him. There are so many talented rising stars out there who battle against training costs - we need to do more to be able to support them and help them achieve their goals.”

Easi-Drive’s WheelsforGood fund aims to provide monetary donations for projects in and around the communities in which the business operates – to find out more or to apply for a donation please visit, http://www.wheelsforgood.com/

Easi-Drive gets Wigan Charity out of a fix

2010-06-03T12:59:00.000+01:00

The Wigan-based charity Fix-It UK has received a £4000 boost from leading accident management specialists Easi-Drive.

The charity, based on the Rosebridge Industrial Estate, in Springview, runs vocational training courses in motor mechanics for disadvantaged 14-19-year-olds. They were left devastated in November last year when thieves took all of their tools, specialist equipment and even the playstation the students had raised money for.

Simon Bellamy, MD of Wythenshawe-based Easi-Drive heard about their plight and decided to help out.

Ian Tomlinson, Programme Director at Fix-It UK, said: “It’s great for our students to see that life’s not all bad and that there are some caring people out there.”

Stu McAndrew, Business Development Manager for Easi-Drive, who went down to the charity to present the cheque this week, said: “I was really impressed with the set up and the great opportunities they offer local youngsters.”

He continued: “It is easy to forget what it’s like to be a teenager trying to find your way in life. Yet here, through the development of their mechanics and qualifications programme, Ian and his team are doing a fantastic job of giving these youngsters skills and belief and opening doors which might otherwise be closed to them.”

The money, which came from the Company’s community giving scheme - WheelsforGood - will be used to replace some of the stolen equipment.

Easi-Drive’s WheelsforGood initiative distributes £60,000 annually to good causes across the UK. To apply go to http://www.wheelsforgood.com/

Easi-Drive's Community Giving Campaign

2009-12-17T12:00:00.001Z

Leading accident management specialist, Easi-Drive, have pledged their support to fund 20 young drivers wanting to improve their skills on the road as part of their community giving campaign WheelsForGood.

The company has linked up with the IAM & Stockport Advanced Motorists to invite applications for fully funded places on the IAM ‘Skill For Life’ driving course, which covers all types of road situations including motorway driving and helping students to develop driver skills in anticipating and dealing with a potential accident situation.

Research by the road safety charity has shown that young drivers aged between 17 and 26, were the most ‘at risk’ group behind the wheel, but financial constraints on them meant that there was a poor sign up rate for their ‘Skill for life’ courses.

So when charity bosses saw the launch of Easi-Drive’s WheelForGood campaign – a £60,000 bursary fund created by co-founder Simon Bellamy to give something back to the community in which the business operates - in the local press, they applied for funding.

Simon Bellamy said: “We are keen to promote road safety and good driving practice, so this was an ideal opportunity to help young people’s skills behind the wheel in the town where I was born and grew up. And as wheels are at the heart of what we do, it seems fitting that our corporate giving strategy should be based around this theme.”

Perry Freeman, Chairman of Stockport Advanced Motorists, said: “We are really pleased of the support Simon and the money he is donating on behalf of Easi-Drive to put 20 young drivers through the course, especially as his business centres on cars and driving.

“The course gives younger drivers a valuable insight into driving at a much higher skill level. Advanced Driving gives the driver a great deal of extra knowledge about how to deal with difficult road situations.

“For example, maybe, you’ve even been driving for a little while, but do you know all the hidden hazards on the motorway? Would you know how to deal with a ‘tailgater’ in a safe and efficient manner so as not to be pushed into making an unsafe manoeuvre? How would you react after the incident?”

Places on the course, which normally costs £139 each, are now available on a first come first served basis.

In addition, after passing the IAM Skill for life course, most insurance companies will offer young drivers upto 25 per cent off their insurance.

Applicants must be aged between 17 and 26 and hold a full UK driving licence, have had a minimum of three months driving experience and have regular access to a car during the week and at weekends. The car must be taxed, MoTd and insured and the driver must have a license appropriate to that class of vehicle.

Courses are run from the Old Rectory in Stockport (Home of Stockport Advanced Motorists) for approximately six sessions. Practical on the road sessions are done in the students own car with a qualified ‘Observer’ (Driving Coach).

Anyone wishing to apply for a place on the course should apply in writing to info@stockportadvancedmotorists.org.uk including their name, age, address, and why they want to do the course.

Local Bmx Club Benefits For ‘Wheely’ Generous Donation

2009-12-02T16:12:00.005Z

Royston-based BMX club, the Royston Rockets is celebrating this week after receiving much needed funding from national accident management firm Easi-Drive.

With a member base of over 70, the club which was established over 25 years ago, has received a £1,000 donation from Easi-Drive’s community funding bursary scheme for improvements to its race track.

Commenting on the donation, Paul Blanche a BMX enthusiast and committee member said; “We are thrilled with the funding - it will go a long way and help the club make significant improvements to the circuit, which are much needed.”

Paul, a Bodyshop Manager at Barkway Service Station and Crash Repair Centre by day, applied for funding on behalf of Royston Rockets, he added: “We do a lot of work with Easi-Drive and we heard about its community giving project - WheelsForGood - I decided to submit a request on behalf of the racing club.”

Andrew Warrender, from Easi-Drive’s local depot in Hitchin, visited the track on Tuesday to present the funds and see first hand where the money would be spent: “It’s great to be able to help out such a worthy community project. The club provides an excellent facility for both BMX die-hards and those that just want to pop down, jump on a bike and try it out for the first time,” he said.

“I’ve been very impressed with the quality of the riding I have seen tonight - some of the jumps that have been displayed have been fantastic.”

For further information on the club visit http://www.roystonrockets.co.uk/

Easi-Drive Gets Its Community Giving Programme On The Road

2009-12-02T16:04:00.006Z

Manchester-based Easi-Drive has launched a national community giving programme, WheelsForGood.

Brainchild of founder and managing director Simon Bellamy, the £60,000 bursary fund has been created to give something back to the community in which the business operates.

Bellamy said: “As wheels are at the heart of what we do, it seems fitting that our corporate giving strategy should be based around this theme. This isn’t just about making monetary donations, we will also be offering our time to projects that will benefit.”

The launch of the programme was marked with a donation of £1,000 to a BMX club, the Royston Rockets. Bellamy added: “We received an application through a Bodyshop in the south for funding for the club for improvements to its racing track.

“The club is professionally run and offers local kids the opportunity to channel their energy into something positive - we were delighted to help out.”

Bellamy predicts that the fund will help all sorts of projects from helping kids get mobile, restoration of vehicles to supporting young mechanics through apprenticeship programmes.

He added: “As one of the leading suppliers of like for like replacement vehicles we have instant access to a diverse range of vehicles including 12-seater coaches, we know already from conversations with people that so many charities and local projects are desperate for assistance with transport. We will endeavour to help as many projects as we can over the next 12 months.”

Disabled children on the move

2009-11-04T09:54:00.001Z

Ten children from Manchester are set to benefit from a wheelchair skills training course thanks to Easi-Drive. The company has made a £2500 donation from the wheelsforgood fund to leading children’s mobility charity Whizz-Kidz to help disabled children learn how to use their wheelchairs with confidence.
Stuart Denard from Whizz-Kidz said: “Independent mobility is the difference between relying on others and keeping up with childhood. So once children have got the right mobility equipment learning how to get the best out of it is very important. We are delighted with Easi-Drive’s support.” Whizz-Kidz runs skills training courses all over the UK using 40 schools and community centres. Each course lasts from one to two weeks with volunteers and parents helping out. The Manchester course is expected to take place in the New Year with opportunities for members of the Easi-Drive team, based in Whythenshawe, to join in.

Easi-Drive Managing Director Simon Bellamy said that this was exactly what he had in mind when he set up the fund. “We want to help people in our community – especially children - and do our bit to change lives for the better.”