The brand new bicycles are donated each year by the Sarah Groves Foundation, working in conjunction with various agencies including Social Services, HomeStart Guernsey, Help a Guernsey Child and the Kindred Family Hub.
The bicycles are mainly for toddlers, but also accommodate other young children up to the age of 12.
The foundation was formed by Vic and Kate Groves in memory of their 24-year-old daughter Sarah, who was murdered while backpacking in India in 2013. They wanted to help continue their daughter’s great passion – helping young people who were less fortunate than herself.
‘This is the one that’s a bit sentimental,’ said Mr Groves.
‘It goes to the core of what we really stand for. It really was Kate’s initiative, not mine, and she just had this childhood memory of her own, waking up to a bicycle. She’s remembered that, and wants to do it for lots of other people.’
Kindred Family Hub’s manager Kay Lindsay said her team always received heartening feedback from the children’s parents.
‘We want children to be more active, to get out and about. It’s really important, and it’s not taken for granted. Some parents are very tearful when they see the bike,’ she said.
‘Sometimes when I phone parents and say: “Would your child like a bicycle a Christmas?”, they say: “Well, how much do we have to put in?”
‘They can’t believe it’s free. It’s just wonderful and really lovely.’
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