A unique 'Buy-A-Bike' alternative gift scheme has been launched in Kenilworth by this year's Mayor of Kenilworth, Cllr Richard Dickson.

The Kenilworth Uyogo Friendship Link (KUFL) charity, supported by Cllr Dickson as one of his mayoral charities, has come up with a new way to raise money for bicycles to enable secondary school girls to cycle quickly and safely to school in rural Tanzania, transforming their life chances, and at the same time providing a novel gift option for Kenilworth families and their friends.

£50 will pay for a locally purchased bicycle, delivered to Uyogo Secondary School.

This will make a huge difference to the life of a secondary school girl, some of whom live up to 26km away from school; walking long distances to school means those in the furthest villages are struggling to attend.

£25 will buy a bike frame.

In both cases the buyer will receive an A4 certificate which can be given to a family member, other families or friends as an 'alternative' gift.

Kenilworth has had a friendship link with Uyogo in Tanzania for more than 40 years. 

Girls walking to the new secondary school that has opened in the village, from their homes in neighbouring communities, are also at significant risk of being attacked.  Uyogo community leaders have asked for help to provide bicycles for girls so they can cycle safely to and from school, in groups.

All the money raised through the alternative gift scheme will be used to buy new bikes locally in Tanzania, which will also be clearly marked as a KUFL bike.

Helping to launch the new alternative gift scheme, Cllr Richard Dickson said "Kenilworth residents have always been very generous towards the people of Uyogo. Kenilworth can claim to be the birthplace of modern-day cycling since Edward Langley Fardon first rode a bicycle from Kenilworth to Leek Wootton in 1869. With this alternative gift scheme the two go together."

Details of how to buy a bike or bike-frame gift can be found on the charity's website or by e-mailing [email protected].