FORE appeals for bike donations to push forward community project

FORE Partnership, the real estate investment platform behind the 94,000 sq. ft. speculative Cadworks office development in Glasgow city centre, has underlined its commitment to the city’s most vulnerable communities by forging a partnership with Soul Riders, the social enterprise that refurbishes and distributes bicycles to isolated and destitute people across the City.

FORE, which also owns an interest in Glasgow’s 50 Bothwell Street development, said it is aiming to support the city’s wider communities through the partnership by “driving tangible and enduring social change” and is asking the Scottish property community to donate unused bicycles, which they will collect and pass to Soul Riders for refurbishment and donation.

Between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 23rd June, FORE and Soul Riders will hold an open house at 4 Forth Street, Glasgow, G41 2SS, especially for real estate professionals.

Soul Riders’ PathWays project is centred on supporting vulnerable people, including poverty stricken refugees and asylum seekers. Donated bikes will be refurbished and given a new lease of life by staff and volunteers and then distributed back into the community to some of the most isolated in Glasgow.

Providing free bikes can be truly life changing; hours of walking turns to minutes and allows easier access healthcare, food distribution organisations, and other support networks. The very nature of cycling can also bring health and wellbeing benefits, helping people feel good and have fun.

Soul Riders also empowers those it helps through other activities such as led rides and social nights at their Community Cycling Centre, a culturally sensitive hub, where SoulRiders tackles major issues such as social isolation. Their SoulLounge within the centre is a vital place where ‘Cycling Communities’ are created and people meet and build networks.

Basil Demeroutis, FORE’s managing partner, said: “Cycling forms a huge part of our business’ drive for a healthier, greener and more sustainable planet, so we feel that is only right that we use our resources to partner with social enterprises like Soul Riders.

“Soul Riders is an exceptional local initiative set up to offer practical and life-changing support to the most vulnerable and isolated in our society and we are delighted to support them.

“It is fundamental that, as property owners, we operate in a way that not only supports and protects our environment, but also tackles the systemic challenges facing people in the cities where we are present. We must collectively look at using our voices and our skills for the benefit of wider society. Soul Riders is a superb group and we are thrilled to offer our support to such a brilliant, grass-roots organisation.”

If you are able to donate a bike, please contact Lisa Mennie, lisa@skylarkpublicrelations.com, 07825 225 414 who will coordinate collection and transportation to Soul Riders, or drop in to 4 Forth Street, Glasgow, G41 2SS, between 10am and 4pm pm on Saturday 23 June.