OUR ECO SOCIAL MISSION
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Our social enterprise was founded in 2020 by our parent organisation Frontline Make Change, an addiction support service that operates multiple locations across Dublin. The initiative was created in direct response to the significant barriers faced by individuals with a history of long-term unemployment, addiction, or imprisonment - individuals who often find it incredibly difficult to secure stable employment and move forward from past struggles. Recognising these challenges, Frontline Bikes was developed as a pathway to help people rebuild their lives while addressing wider environmental concerns.
Initially launched as a retail outlet in the heart of Inchicore, Dublin 8, Frontline Bikes has since grown into a vital community resource. Our bike shop not only offers a variety of services but also plays a crucial role in providing employment opportunities to people with lived experience. This includes:
> Comprehensive bike repair service catering to the local community.
> A dedicated team of staff who bring lived experience of addiction, long-term unemployment, or incarceration, offering them a chance at meaningful work and stability.
> A wide selection of upcycled, second-hand bikes for sale, contributing to sustainability efforts while offering affordable cycling options.
In 2022, we expanded our initiative by launching a dedicated Training Programme and Upcycling Centre. This programme offers City & Guilds Level 1 and 2 qualifications in cycle mechanics, providing an accredited learning opportunity for individuals to develop a new skill set and increase their employability. The programme’s use of donated bikes - often old, unused, or discarded - serves not only as a means of training but as a sustainable approach to recycling materials that would otherwise have ended up in landfills.
A PATHWAY TO WORK
The core aim of the programme is to provide participants with stability, routine, and a clear pathway to employment. Some participants may be just beginning to have structure and routine in their lives and flexibility is important to meet them where they are at.
Recognising that each participant may be at a different stage in their journey, our training programme remains flexible to accommodate individual needs. Regular check-ins with key workers from Frontline Make Change are an integral part of the process, ensuring that each person receives the necessary support to overcome any challenges and achieve their personal goals.
15 MILLION BIKES END UP IN LANDFILL EACH YEAR WORLDWIDE
Globally, 15 million bikes end up in landfills each year, contributing to the growing environmental crisis. We are deeply committed to reducing waste and minimising landfill contributions. By repairing and upcycling bikes, we not only offer an eco-friendly alternative but also promote a culture of sustainability. Each bike sold - whether through our shop or online - is a product of careful restoration, ensuring that these once-discarded bikes continue to serve the community and the environment.
Through our focus on repurposing, recycling, and providing valuable training opportunities, Frontline Bikes is not just supporting individuals to re-enter the workforce; we are also contributing to lower emissions, less waste, and a more sustainable future for all.
FROM APRIL 2023 TO APRIL 2024, FRONTLINE BIKES:
The EU Waste Framework Directive states that the goal by 2025 is for re-use and the recycling of municipal waste to be increased to a minimum of 55%.
Frontline Bikes is proud to be significantly exceeding this target currently:
Future initiatives include introducing a tyre recycling charge to customers, which we hope will further reduce the number of tyres and tubes that end up in landfill.