North-east MSP and Stella’s Voice gear up for Bikes for Christmas campaign
A north-east MSP and a charity have teamed up to launch a heart-warming festive initiative.
Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, has partnered with Stella’s Voice in an initiative which will see hundreds of safety-checked, road-ready bikes - complete with helmets - will be distributed to children and young people in need this festive season.
The effort has been undertaken in collaboration with representatives from Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, reflecting a united effort to support families during the holiday season.
Launching the scheme at Stella’s Voice Charity Superstore in Peterhead, Ms Adam MSP was joined by Mark Morgan, CEO of Stella's voice, representatives from local councils, Invictus games gold medallist David Jarvis and supporters to celebrate the launch of Bikes for Christmas.
She said: "This initiative goes far beyond providing bikes, it’s about spreading joy, supporting physical and mental wellbeing, and lightening the load for families during the festive season.
“The thought of children’s faces lighting up when they receive their bikes, coupled with the relief it brings to parents during a challenging time, truly captures the essence of this effort. I am immensely proud of the outstanding work of Stella’s Voice and the commitment of representatives from Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, who have worked tirelessly to bring this transformative initiative to life.
“This embodies the very heart of community spirit here in Banffshire and Buchan Coast."
Active Schools and Community Sport Manager for Aberdeenshire Council, Stuart Grant, highlighted the council's role in co-ordinating the initiative:
He continued: "Live Life Aberdeenshire have been delighted to provide support to this very important piece of work, with colleagues in the Live Life Outdoors Cycle Base coordinating all the requests that have been received from schools, and aided by local support from the North Team within Active Schools Aberdeenshire to ensure that Stella’s Voice could distribute as many bikes as possible across the school networks in the north area ahead of Christmas."
Adding to the excitement, local hero and Invictus Games gold medallist David Jarvis lent his support to the campaign. A passionate advocate for cycling and wellbeing, he shared how bikes have the power to transform lives, drawing from his personal experiences as an athlete and veteran:
“This is not only a fantastic initiative that will bring immediate joy to children, but with sustained support and growth, it holds the potential to address a range of challenges facing our community.
“By encouraging the next generation to take up cycling, we are investing in their future—enhancing long-term health and well-being, alleviating traffic congestion, and reducing budgetary pressures on our hospitals and road infrastructure. Ultimately, this initiative will also support our goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions.”
Mark Morgan, CEO of Stella’s Voice, shared his gratitude for the collaboration and his hopes for the future of the initiative: "This is a great example of what can be achieved when different groups come together and make a far bigger impact than each could on their own.
“It's about the physical things like a bike and accessories, but also the intangible - hope, kindness, inclusion and so much more. Knowing there will be a life-long impact in people's lives as a result of this initiative makes all the effort worthwhile."
The initiative also has hopes to become a year-round program, with this Christmas campaign serving as a pilot for a wider rollout across the whole of Scotland.
Ms Adam added: "This isn’t just a Christmas gift; it’s the beginning of a movement to bring bikes to children across Scotland all year round. Imagine the impact we can have - not just on the environment by saving bikes from landfill but on the lives of countless young people who will benefit from the physical, mental, and emotional rewards of cycling."
