Reoffending costs you and me £18 billion a year. If all prison leavers found jobs, this would fall by 70% overnight.
Over 400 studies show that employment is the single most important factor in reducing reoffending rates.
75% of businesses will not employ ex-offenders.
All profits from our bike sales go back to training & hiring more prison leavers, keeping them in work, and out of prison.
Rebuilding lives
All of our fixers (mechanics) have been to prison or were heading down that road before they came to us. Now, they have an alternative. They have hope. These men have so much to offer. All they needed was a chance, and so far, every one of them has grabbed that chance and is flourishing. On top of this, we run regular training courses for prison leavers and find employment for them if we can’t (yet) take them on. The energy they bring to the workshop in the morning and the hope they take home in the evening is infectious. They’re so proud every time someone like you buys a bike that they’ve brought back to life. Men fixing bikes, or bikes fixing men?
Donate a Bike Today
We and our prison leavers are completely reliant on bike donations. If you have a bike to donate or know of other people who do, simply fill in this form and answer a few questions to get going. It needs to be a decent bike. A good brand and in recoverable condition. If in doubt please send a photo.
Donate to us today
We and our prison leavers are reliant on the good will and generosity of the public to keep us going. If you don’t have a bike to donate but would like to contribute, any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated. Please follow this link to our Just Giving Page and give whatever you can afford. Massive thanks from the Onwards & Upwards and XO Bikes Teams.
Donate Money
Volunteer with us
Our amazing team of volunteers support XO Bikes to keep running smoothly and ensure that Onwards and Upwards is able to reach out to more people and help rebuild lives. Volunteering for us really does make a difference to the organisation but vitally, to the individuals involved in our effort to break the cycle of reoffending.
RETAILER: Our shops couldn’t run without the help of our committed volunteers who give their time regularly, interact with customers and build fantastic relationships with the fixer team. We have space for someone to work a regular shift in our Wandsworth and Lewisham shops. The role involves meeting / greeting / chatting / selling and supporting the mechanics.
COMMITMENT: ONE DAY WEEKLY.
We’re also aware that some of you may not be able to commit to a regular day, or time. With that in mind we are adding below some of the more ad hoc opportunities as well as regular positions that would really help us out.
DRIVER: All of our bikes are donated, and this involves regular collection days. If you have a valid driving licence and a desire to drive around the police stations of London and beyond, we would love your help. The aim is to collect once per week –a regular rota of drivers would allow us to keep up with the demand! COMMITMENT – ONE DAY FORTNIGHTLY OR MONTHLY.
LUGGER: Don’t fancy driving but still like the idea of being on the road? On our bigger collection days, having a team of two for all thelifting would be ideal, and beneficial for backs all round. COMMITMENT – ONE DAY MONTHLY
FINDER: There really are thousands of bikes out there, sitting sadly waiting for a new lease of life from someone like us. Someone happy to seek out those places, find the people to call and organise the collections would transform the number of bikes we are able to take.
COMMITMENT – ONE DAY FORTNIGHTLY
DIY-ER: We are moving both our Lewisham and Wandsworth locations within the next few months. We will be fixing up both shops and aiming to turn them over and ready for sales within a week of obtaining them. Any help from anyone good with a hammer will help us turn this around. COMMITMENT – TWO DAYS MINIMUM
TIDYER: As above but for those who have a dab hand for hoovering and an eye for layout and finishing touches. COMMITMENT – ONE DAY MINIMUM
