Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)
- Legal name
- Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)
- Website
- https://bikesforrefugees.scot
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refugee Mobility Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH)
Keywords
Where Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donated Bikes: Accepts donations of pre-loved bicycles from individuals and organizations, refurbishes them, and distributes free bikes to refugees and asylum seekers
- Monetary Donations: Accepts one-off and regular cash donations from individuals and corporate sponsors to fund bike repairs, accessories (helmets, locks, lights), and operational costs
- Grant Funding: Receives grant funding from charitable foundations and government bodies to support operations, staff, and programs
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners provide cash donations, in-kind support, discounts, volunteering, and fundraising event support
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) refurbishes donated second-hand bicycles at its community hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh and distributes them free of charge, paired with a New Scots Welcome Pack (helmet, lock, lights, and tools), to refugees and asylum seekers across Scotland. The organisation also runs community workshop hubs where volunteers refurbish bikes under qualified mechanics, supports cycling skills training, and operates a Hub & Spoke model that extends refurbishment capacity through schools, clubs, and community groups.
Product overview
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) is a charity (SCIO, SC047302) providing a portfolio of services centered on redistributing refurbished bicycles to New Scots (refugees and asylum seekers). The core offering is the combination of free refurbished bicycles paired with New Scots Welcome Packs containing essential cycling accessories (helmet, lock, lights, tools) and community information. The organization operates community hub workshops in Glasgow and Edinburgh where volunteers refurbish donated bikes, supplemented by a Hub & Spoke model for external repair partners. Beyond bike distribution, services include volunteering opportunities, fundraising challenge events, and cycling skills support. The organization is entirely donation-funded, accepting bike donations, financial contributions, and offering corporate sponsorship packages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Refurbished Bicycles for New Scots A free-of-charge service that refurbishes donated second-hand bicycles at BfR's community hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh and distributes them to refugees and asylum seekers (New Scots) to provide essential mobility, freedom of movement, and access to appointments, services, language classes, education, volunteering, and employment.
- New Scots Welcome Pack A free bundle provided with every bicycle distributed by BfR, containing essential cycling accessories (helmet, lock, lights, and tools) together with signposting to other free community services and activities for refugees and asylum seekers.
- Community Hub Bike Refurbishment Workshops Operated community workshops in Glasgow (Govan) and Edinburgh (Leith, hosted by Edinburgh Bike Tours) where volunteer bike mechanics, under supervision of qualified employed mechanics, refurbish donated bikes to a quality standard for distribution to New Scots, with an additional Hub & Spoke model enabling partner schools, clubs, and community groups to refurbish bikes from their own premises.
- Cycling Skills and Confidence Support for New Scots Free support provided to New Scots who do not feel confident cycling on Scottish roads and paths, helping them access cycling-skills training alongside receiving a free bicycle, and complemented by BfR-affiliated cycling groups for ongoing peer support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4000+ New Scots provided with essential mobility and freedom of movement
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Soulriders ScotlandcoreEarly partnership (2017) providing Glasgow home for BfR operations before move to dedicated hub. Helped with bike transport and distribution, ending the need to squeeze bikes into campervans.
- Edinburgh Bike Tours LeithcoreCurrent host of Edinburgh hub workshop space since January 2021, providing Covid-secure premises for bike refurbishment operations in Leith.
- Glentress Alpine BikesminorRegular donor of Trek bikes for New Scots. Donated bikes for refugee families in NE Scotland in 2019 and continued support through 2023.
- Alpkit EdinburghminorCorporate sponsor passionate about cycling accessibility. Supports BfR making bikes and cycling free and accessible to New Scots.
- CheemiaminorScottish social media business supporting BfR since 2018 through donations and team fundraising. Enabled purchase of 30 bikes and 100 helmets for refugee children. Founded by immigrant Mehrnaz Campbell.
- Pilot BeerminorScottish brewery partner proud to extend hand of friendship to New Scots. Delighted to support BfR with multi-year partnership.
- DECATHLONcoreMajor retail partner passionate about getting people active. Aligned with mission to help New Scots access bikes. Looking forward to continued partnership.
- MaslowscorePartnered during COVID-19 emergency relief, distributing food vouchers and phones to isolated New Scots alongside BfR's relief efforts.
- MORE (Charity)minorCOVID-19 emergency partner distributing food vouchers alongside BfR's relief efforts to address food insecurity among New Scots.
- The Bike Project (London)minorCo-beneficiary of Sarah Ruggins' JOGLEJOG World Record cycling challenge (May 2025), sharing fundraising proceeds to support similar refugee bike programs.
- Wee Spoke Hub EdinburghcoreEarly partnership (Summer 2016) helping fix up bikes for refugees when BfR was just starting out and needed workshop space.
- Pedal Forth bikes (Leith)coreOriginal donor of first bike to Yaman (Syrian New Scot) in 2016, the inspiration behind BfR's founding.
- Cycling ScotlandcoreStaff exchange partner - Matt joined BfR as Project Manager (Hubs) from Cycling Scotland in October 2020, bringing expertise in cycle-friendly community initiatives.
- Edinburgh PrintmakersminorHosted BfR celebration evening and limited edition poster sale fundraiser in June 2023, raising over £1,000 for New Scots refugee bike access.
- Edinburgh Road ClubminorSupported Pedal on Parliament fundraising events and celebrations for BfR.
- Innes and GunnminorSupported BfR fundraising events and celebrations.
- Bridge 8 Hub EdinburghcoreEarly storage location (20ft shipping container) and later expanded to 40ft shipping container workshop space for Edinburgh operations (2016-2019).
- Glasgow Caring CityminorProvided temporary workshop space in Glasgow during transition period (September 2019).
- Scottish Refugee CouncilminorSupported fundraising celebration event and refugee-focused initiatives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cycling UK: Largest UK cycling charity; covers cycling advocacy, training and community programs including for refugees and asylum seekers, making it a broader incumbent in the same charity/cycling nexus.
Direct peers
- Re-Cycle: UK charity refurbishing donated bikes for shipment to partners in Africa; same refurbishment-and-distribution model as BfR but with a different beneficiary geography (international rather than UK refugees).
- Bikeworks: London-based cycling charity using refurbished bikes and cycling activities for community and refugee support; shares BfR's combination of bike refurbishment, training, and beneficiary engagement model.
- The Bike Project: London-based charity refurbishing donated bikes and gifting them to refugees and asylum seekers; explicitly co-beneficiary of BfR fundraising (JOGLEJOG 2025), operates the same donor-refurbish-distribute model as BfR.
- Action Cycles: Bristol-based community bike project refurbishing donated bikes and supporting marginalised groups; closely comparable in mission and operations to BfR.
Emerging players
- Revolve Bike Exchange: Community cycling charity refurbishing and redistributing bikes for underserved groups in the UK, with a similar non-commercial, donation-funded operating model.
- Westminster Bicycle Initiative: Smaller-scale London initiative teaching cycle mechanics to refugees and providing refurbished bikes; overlaps with BfR's refugee bike-and-skills mission.
Regional players
- Bike for Good: Glasgow-based social enterprise promoting cycling access and inclusion, including for disadvantaged and refugee communities; directly overlaps geographically with BfR's Glasgow hub.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) social profiles
Digital presenceBikes for Refugees (Scotland) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)
What does Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) do?
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) refurbishes donated second-hand bicycles at its community hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh and distributes them free of charge, paired with a New Scots Welcome Pack (helmet, lock, lights, and tools), to refugees and asylum seekers across Scotland. The organisation also runs community workshop hubs where volunteers refurbish bikes under qualified mechanics, supports cycling skills training, and operates a Hub & Spoke model that extends refurbishment capacity through schools, clubs, and community groups.
Is Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) a public or private company?
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) founded?
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) based?
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donated Bikes are the primary driver. The others are monetary Donations, grant Funding and corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)'s main competitors?
Cycling UK is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Re-Cycle, Bikeworks, The Bike Project and Action Cycles. Emerging players are Revolve Bike Exchange and Westminster Bicycle Initiative. Bike for Good is listed as a regional player.
Does Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bikes for Refugees (Scotland).
What industry is Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) in?
Bikes for Refugees (Scotland)'s product category is Refugee Mobility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAKAE, Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals), with a secondary code of CRAMAHAH, Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops. Its NAICS code is 813.