In a break from the day job, a group from Thomson Reuters Corporates Europe headed to Lee Valley Velodrome, led by Managing Director Sarah Robbins, to take part in the Bikeworks Charity Bike Factory. The 16 bikes they created will be donated to London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) nurseries and forms an important part of the LEYF initiative to get children active and help curb the Capital’s escalating childhood obesity epidemic.

Thomson Reuters is a valued corporate partner of the Social Business Trust and were introduced to Bikeworks (part of the SBT extended network) at the SBT Thank You Party 2019 – in addition, Bikeworks have formed a partnership with LEYF, who sit on the SBT portfolio, celebrated as one of the most successful investments to date.

The exercise is an example of the collaboration and impact possible through connections made through SBT.

“Many children, especially those from deprived neighbourhoods, do not have access to a bike at home or simply an outdoor space to cycle. What’s more, their preference for video games or screen time often keeps them indoors rather than being active in the fresh air. As obesity rates among children skyrockets, we (as one of London’s largest charitable social enterprises), along with Bikeworks, want action to help address the country’s biggest public health crisis and what better way than learning how to ride a bike? It goes without saying, children who cycle regularly are more likely to become active adults.”
-June O’Sullivan CEO of London Early Years Foundation

Bikeworks have donated a total of 200 bikes to LEYF, to be used across London to help children get active, especially those that might not otherwise have had access to a bike.