A fresh idea to help raise charity cash

Shopmobility shop on Somerset Terrace Scarborough Launch of the Fruits of Yor Labour in aid of Shopmobility. PA1603-12c Pictured with the Smoothie Bike Bill Whittles (chairman), Eleanor Gabriel (trustee), Kelly Bennett (project co-ordinator), Wendy Smith (manager), Dan Hargraves (from Hedge-Hoggers Cider)

Scarborough Shopmobility provides much needed mobility equipment to people suffering from a long or short term disability. Around 4,000 have benefited from the scheme since it opened in 2004.

The new social enterprise, ‘Fruits of your Labour’ gets the public to ride a bike which is hooked up to a blender for a healthy, fruit smoothie. Customers then pay for the smoothie and all proceeds will go to the charity.

Kelly Bennett, of Scarborough Shopmobility, said: “Unfortunately we are a charity who are not funded by the council.”

The charity costs about £45,000 a year to run and the team hope to raise a starting £12,000 to get the charity up and running as soon as possible.

Kelly added: “It’s exciting really. We want this to work, to travel as far as possible. It’s not just something that is going to help us, it’s going to help a lot of people.”

The charity hopes to expand their ‘Fruits of your Labour’ to take into schools and teach children about healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

New bikes will also be made, some with pedals operated by hand so everyone can join in.