WHO IS FRONTLINE BIKES?
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Frontline Bikes was created to address a need recognised by its parent organisation, Frontline Make Change.
Who We Are: Frontline Make Change – Addiction Support & Social Enterprise in Dublin
Frontline Make Change is a Dublin-based organisation that has been providing addiction recovery support services to the local communities of Inchicore, Dublin 8, Dublin 12, and the North Inner City since 1999. Each year, we support over 300 individuals struggling with drug or alcohol misuse, helping them on their journey to recovery and reintegration.
We also run the Children’s Project in Inchicore, offering childcare support for clients in recovery, ensuring families are supported holistically.
Bridging the Gap: From Recovery to Employment
Many of the people we work with face long-term barriers to employment, often due to histories of:
- Addiction
- Imprisonment
- Long-term unemployment
Even with recovery and new qualifications, these individuals can face stigma in the job market. Employers are often hesitant to hire people with such backgrounds, leading to limited employment opportunities and increasing the risk of relapse or reoffending.
Frontline Bikes: A Social Enterprise Making Real Change
To address this challenge, Frontline Make Change launched a social enterprise – Frontline Bikes – in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise is a business created to achieve a positive social, environmental, or societal impact, rather than simply focusing on profit. Revenue generated is reinvested into the organisation to further its mission.
Frontline Bikes: Empowering Through Skills, Recovery, and Employment
Frontline Bikes began with a bike shop in Inchicore, providing affordable bike repairs to the local community while also offering:
- Training in bike mechanics
- Hands-on retail and customer service experience
- A pathway to employment for people in recovery
In 2022, the project expanded to include a Training & Upcycling Centre in Bluebell, where participants can now gain City & Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 certification in Cycle Mechanics.
Additional supports at our Bluebell centre include:
- One-to-one key working
- Counselling and aftercare support
- Flexible learning to accommodate different needs and recovery stages
Promoting the Circular Economy Through Bike Upcycling in Dublin
At its core, Frontline Bikes is part of the circular economy, an environmentally sustainable model that reduces waste and promotes reuse.
We:
- Accept donated bikes from the public
- Upcycle and reuse bike parts
- Reduce waste going to landfill
- Offer refurbished bikes for sale online and in-store
Our premium upcycled bikes are carefully stripped, rebuilt, resprayed, and quality checked by our in-house mechanics and trainees.
Social Impact of Frontline Bikes (2020–Present)
Since launching in 2020, Frontline Bikes has achieved several key milestones:
- 6 full-time employees, many with lived experience
- Over 20 trainees have completed bike mechanic training
- Refurbished bikes donated to families and children in direct provision
- Developed a line of premium upcycled bicycles for sale
- Provided an inclusive, supportive, and structured route to recovery and employment
All of our bikes are fully serviced, safety-checked, and affordably priced – making them perfect for commuters, students, and families in Dublin.
The staff who work in the bike shop and Training & Upcycling Centre in Bluebell have lived experience and are an example of what a pathway to recovery and employment can provide.
We are more than a bike shop in Dublin - we are a community-focused, purpose-driven organisation. When you buy from us or donate a bike, you're helping:
- Support individuals in addiction recovery
- Promote sustainable transport and reduce waste
- Create real job opportunities in Dublin through our social enterprise model
Interested In Supporting Our Mission?
- Hire a trainee: Interested in providing work opportunities for trained mechanics? Contact us.
- Buy a bike: Browse our selection of premium upcycled bikes.
- Donate your old bike: Give your unused bike a second life.
- Email us at [email protected] to learn more or get involved.