Life Cycle is a charity that works with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds at every stage of their cycling journey: From learning to ride, to building a career in the cycle industry.
We know that with the right support, anyone can benefit from bikes. We help thousands of people each year by providing:
1) Bikes that are safe, smooth and fun to ride.
2) Cycle training for all ages and abilities.
3) Cycling activities for people with additional needs.
4) Industry-accredited training for the public - and people in prison.
Our Bikes Beyond Bars project takes donations of broken and unwanted bikes to secure workshops inside local prisons. Here we teach prisoners the skills to completely refurbish them.
Prisoners earn a City & Guilds cycle mechanics qualification. For many, this will be their first. With our support, they gain employable skills, self-belief and a sense of hope – the keys to a crime-free future.
Life Cycle's bike shop (the Bristol Hub) sells refurbished bikes at affordable prices - and provides subsidies for people on low incomes and other disadvantaged groups.
We also provide bike servicing and repairs, Dr Bikes and bike maintenance courses for the public.
If you're interested in partnering with Life Cycle, or referring people to our services, we'd love to hear from you!
19 Cambridge Rd, Bristol, BS7 8PS
Life Cycle takes donations of unwanted bicycles from the public and takes them to Bristol Prison, where with the help of prisoners we strip down, clean and refit them giving them a new lease of life. Experienced mechanics work with prisoners teaching them mechanical skills and helping them to refurbish bikes to a high standard. Once fixed the bikes are sold at affordable prices with the intention of helping Bristolians on lower incomes to get a bike and start cycling.
This opportunity is open to offenders currently within HMP Bristol.
Usual prison processes should be follow in relation to requesting to take part in Bristol Bike Back (speak to you prison offender supervisor or a wing officer to find out more.
Individuals are given the skills and knowledge toperform the follow tasks:
The project provides productive employment, training and qualifications for prisoners. Ultimately, we hope that some prisoners will learn sufficient skills and gain enough experience that they can gain employment as mechanics on release, helping to reduce re-offending in the future.
HMP Bristol
All referrals into the scheme for people with HMP Bristol should be via their Offenders Supervisor or Wing Officer.
We urgently need donations of unwanted bikes. If you have an unwanted bike you no longer ride, then please consider donating it to us.
We sell bikes at our Bristol Hub. If you are on a low-income, want to start cycling and need an affordable bike, then drop in when we're open.
"I just bought a bike from your sale which i am so thrilled with. It's like you had my dream bike there waiting for me! I just wanted to let you know that all the staff and volunteers there were really really wonderful and are a real asset to your organisation." - Beth