Bikes Beyond Bars

Bike mechanic training in prisons

Bikes Beyond Bars gives prisoners the tools to turn their lives around. Our bike mechanic training breaks the cycle of reoffending by boosting employability, dignity and mental health. Each person works towards an accredited mechanic qualification, while recycling donated bikes which are returned to the local community.

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Start a regular gift to bring hope and dignity to prisons every month.

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Donate a bike

Your bike can bring confidence, learning, and a light at the end of the tunnel.

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How it works

People like you donate bikes. We take each bike into prison.
Prisoners learn to refurbish them while gaining a bike mechanic qualification.
Refurbished bikes are given away to people in transport poverty, or sold affordably to fund our charitable work.

Our in-prison workshops are in Bristol, Leicestershire and Oxfordshire. In Bristol we also train prison leavers - providing post release work experience for a positive, fresh start.

We asked prisoners how the project impacted them:

98% now think more positively about themselves and the future
91% have improved their job-related skills
95% improved their mental well-being

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Help us change more lives through cycling

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Two cyclists wearing helmets and sunglasses riding side by side with a blurred cyclist behind.

Lukas’ story

A purpose in prison

Read Lukas’ story

Cycle stories

“Being in the workshop really makes a difference from spending all day in my cell. It feels great to be able to give back to the community, being here has been an absolute life saver! The best experience I’ve ever had in prison.”

Luke, HMP Fosse Way

"I love it here. I've fixed six bikes now, got my Level 1 qualification, and I'm chief bike checker. I’m off the drugs and I want to earn my Level 2 with Life Cycle once I'm released."

Kevin*, prisoner at HMP Bristol