Seized cars swerve scrapheap to help teens

30 June 2022  

Cars seized by the Police that were set to be scrapped have been given a second lease of life as part of a school programme intended to help troubled teens and pre-teens.

Recycling and waste management business Recycling Lives has teamed up with Merseyside Police and the AA to donate the cars to the programme at Co-op Academy Bebington on the Wirral.

The initiative aims to support 11-18 year-olds deemed to be at risk of permanent exclusion or exploitation by organised crime groups to learn all aspects of car repairs.

With floorspace limited Recycling Lives has created enough space to accommodate the two full cars, two cutdowns and two engines. James Hadley, Managing Director Automotive, Recycling Lives, said: “Our maintenance team stripped off the front end of each individual car and meticulously put them back together again with copper slip to ensure each part could be taken off easily again by the pupils to maximise their learning capability. We capped off brake lines to allow the front end of the cars to be fully operational, which means the kids can test their work once carried out to help with their understanding and engagement. Shadow tool boards with a complete set of tools were also gifted to make it easy to identify missing items from a distance and to help with their learning

“The new unit will give youngsters the chance to learn meaningful skills and serve as a helping hand into further education or employment, which in turn provides positive social economic impact.”

Paul Hart, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, Co-op Academy Bebington, observed: “My dream is to open apprenticeship doors for the future, and to create meaningful opportunities for them all – and through this partnership and our shared values and vision, I am confident we will.”

Dave Carson, Contractor Scheme Manager, The AA, added: “Our partnership with Co-op Academy Bebington is something that we are hugely passionate about. Not only is it keeping local kids at risk of going down the wrong path engaged in school and giving them a purpose, but it’s also addressing a massive skills shortage across the industry by getting young people into the motor industry.”