David Bavaird and Gavin Marshall Launch Tyre Education for Schools Programme

David Bavaird, director of Scrap Tyre Exchange, has created a programme called TEFORS (Tyre Education for Schools) designed to teach children how a tyre works, the importance of tyre safety and the benefits of tyre recycling. TEFORS programme was launched this week at Battle Hill Primary School in North Tyneside, whose programme has been sponsored by neighbouring North Eastern Tyre and Autocare’s (NETA) Silverlink retail outlet.

Gavin Marshall, managing director of NETA says they were delighted to be the first to commit to the programme: “North Eastern Tyres has outlets across the North East and we were thrilled to be invited to be the first to take up the opportunity of being the first sponsor of what looks like becoming a hugely successful scheme. TEFORS will bring to life subjects such as science, safety and green issues in the classroom and will allow us to play a much closer role within the community where our retail outlet sits. We are thrilled to be launching this with Battle Hill Primary School.”

Scrap Tyre Exchange’s David Bavaird, who developed the idea with fellow North Shields education specialists, Learning Days, added: “I’m so happy to be launching this new programme right here in the North East before we launch nationally in early 2010. The initial response from those in the tyre industry and businesses across the UK has exceeded our expectations, so it’s a real thrill for me to be launching the scheme right on our doorstep with Battle Hill Primary and North Eastern Tyre and Autocare.

“I’m passionate about the TEFORS programme which will ignite further understanding, awareness and interest with tomorrow’s drivers today. The scheme offers the perfect vehicle for relevant organisations to create stronger links within the community and give a little bit back.”

Head teacher at Battle Hill Primary School is Kevin Arthur he said: “We are thrilled to be the first school in the UK to be a part of the TEFORS programme and are hugely thankful to North Eastern Tyre and Autocare for undertaking the sponsorship. It’s great to have a successful retail operation on our doorstep who wants to forge closer links with us. As a school dedicated to applying real-life issues to the core curriculum, we know the pupils will receive lots back from this scheme.”

TEFORS is designed to enable businesses to forge closer community links with schools by sponsoring the programme which is supplied free to the sponsor’s local school. It is targeted at 10 and 11 year olds and aims to make them more aware of science, safety and recycling issues relating to tyres through a series of pre-prepared teaching materials and lesson plans