Prodigal Bikes

Prodigal Bikes collects unwanted bikes from the South Somerset / East Devon / West Dorset area. We then refurbish and upgrade them.

Most (70%) are sent to remote areas of Africa, to help people there gain access to education, employment and healthcare, which are otherwise a long regular walk away. At the schools, our bikes help children concentrate in lessons as they are not late and exhausted when they arrive each day.

Additionally, some of our bikes (20%) are given to people here in the UK who need very low cost personal transport; Refugees, Asylum Seekers or people without the means to buy a suitable bike for themselves. We sell the other 10% to help fundraise for the charity.

We work with people here in the West Country who come from backgrounds in offending, disability, long term unemployment and exclusion from school. We teach them basic engineering skills as we prepare the bikes together that we send to Africa. Helping them find an interest in working with their hands helps them move towards further training and employment, and helps them build self-sustaining fulfilling lives for themselves.