Re-cycle (bikes To Africa)

What Re-cycle (bikes To Africa) does

Re-Cycle is a UK-registered charity founded in 1997 by Merlin Matthews in Mersea, Essex, that operates a circular-economy bicycle redistribution program. The organization collects unwanted bicycles from individuals, businesses, and a network of 95 UK drop-off points (including 60+ Halfords stores), refurbishes them at a single warehouse in Wormingford, Essex, and ships full containers to 7 trusted partner NGOs across Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Nigeria. Since the first container shipped in July 1998, Re-Cycle has delivered 168,722+ bicycles across 372 containers.

The organization's technology stack is intentionally minimal: there is no proprietary software platform, with operations built around physical logistics, volunteer labor, and an efficient sardine-style container packing method. Bikes unsuitable for Africa are refurbished and sold from the Essex warehouse, and the site also offers paid bike servicing (Standard £55, Enhanced £95) and Re-Cycle branded merchandise through an online store.

Re-Cycle's revenue model is donation-led and multi-stream: individual donations, trust and grant funding, corporate partnerships (Center Parcs, Chimney Fire Coffee, Rapha, Halfords, Sodexo), DIY fundraising events (e.g., London to Brighton Cycle Ride, Re-Cycle Charity Sportive), earned income from local refurbished bike sales, workshop servicing, and merchandise. Critically, the charity receives no government funding. Operating with a paid headcount of 1-10 employees and a heavy reliance on long-tenured volunteers, Re-Cycle functions as a low-overhead logistics and partnership-coordination organization that channels donated physical assets to African community programs in education, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Name

Re-cycle (bikes To Africa)

Legal name

Re-Cycle

Website

https://www.re-cycle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Services - Bicycle Reuse

NAICS

Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (8114), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Donation, Reuse & Sustainability Returns Programs (TLAIAHAJ)

Keywords

• Bicycle reuse charity
• Bike donation program
• Charity logistics
• Refurbished bicycles
• Community cycling

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donated Bike Sales (UK): Bikes not suitable for Africa are refurbished at the warehouse and sold locally at affordable prices, generating income to support operations.
2. Workshop Servicing: Professional bike servicing and repairs offered at the warehouse in Essex. Standard service at £55 and Enhanced service at £95. All profits fund shipments to Africa.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Re-Cycle branded merchandise including tote bags, caps, T-shirts, and cycling jerseys through the online store.
4. Donations and Grants: No government funding. Funded through individual donations, grants from trusts, corporate partnerships, and community support. Average cost of £30 delivers one bike.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Re-Cycle is a UK-registered charity that collects unwanted bicycles from across the UK through a network of 95 drop-off points and corporate partnerships, refurbishes them at its Essex warehouse, and ships them in containers to 7 trusted NGO partners across Africa. Bikes unsuitable for Africa are refurbished and sold locally, while all proceeds support the Africa mission. The charity also delivers mechanic training, Learn to Ride programmes, and Cycle to School projects through its partner network.

Product overview

Re-Cycle is a UK-based charity that operates a single integrated service for collecting, refurbishing, and redistributing unwanted bicycles from the UK to rural communities across Africa. The organization functions as a unified circular-economy program combining: (1) the Bicycle Collection & Donation Program for UK bike collection, (2) the Bikes to Africa Program for international shipment, (3) a UK Workshop offering Refurbished Bike Sales and Bike Servicing & Repairs, and (4) African Impact Programs including Cycle to School Projects, Learn to Ride Programs, and Mechanic Training. Additional engagement programs include Corporate Partnership Program, Volunteering Program, Fundraising Events, and a Merchandise Store. The portfolio is structured around a single mission—bicycle reuse—with services flowing from collection through to delivery and long-term community impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bicycle Collection & Donation Program UK-wide program that collects unwanted bicycles from individuals and organisations through 95 drop-off points, local collections, and community events, preparing them for refurbishment and shipment to Africa.
• Bikes to Africa Program Re-Cycle ships collected and refurbished bicycles in full containers, along with tools and spare parts, to 7 trusted NGO partner organisations across Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Nigeria for distribution to communities in need.
• Refurbished Bike Sales

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 years of operation delivering 168,722+ bikes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 3StyleScootersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025New partnership announced in 2025 for scooter donations supporting the circular economy mission.
• Gabriel Rotimi Aroge Empowerment Foundation (GRAEF) - NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024New pilot partnership in first year with 505 bikes delivered. Cycle-to-School programme with road safety education and Learn to Ride sessions.
• Center ParcscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate partnership donating retired fleet bikes. Since partnership began, Center Parcs has donated more than 700 bicycles. Enables meaningful employee engagement and sustainability leadership.
• Village Bicycle Project (VBP) - Sierra LeonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership began in 2023 building on the Ghana relationship. 7,488 bikes delivered in 3 years. VBP supports schools with 5,000 bicycles planned over 4-5 years.
• Africycle - MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20232-year partnership with 2,015 bikes delivered. Africycle operates microloan programme for affordable bikes and supports 500+ orphaned children through community childcare programmes.
• Chimney Fire CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020B Corp coffee company partnering since 2020. Supports genuine, lasting impact through practical solutions.
• Wonder Years Centre of Excellence (WYCE) - The GambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201213-year partnership with 22,136 bikes delivered. WYCE runs 22 Cycle to School projects with nearly 700 bicycles distributed. Bike sale profits fund education, healthcare, and community programmes.
• Care Providers Foundation (CPF) - ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200817-year partnership (formerly Kaloko Trust Zambia). 23,362 bikes delivered. CPF uses bike sale proceeds to fund borehole maintenance, schools, and community projects.
• Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) - South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200718-year partnership with 20,888 bikes delivered. BEN operates community bike shops run by trained local entrepreneurs who distribute and maintain bikes.
• Village Bicycle Project (VBP) - GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Since 2003, Re-Cycle ships 3,000+ bicycles annually to VBP in Ghana. 23-year partnership with 47,092 bikes delivered. VBP runs Learn-to-Ride programmes for women and girls, and bicycle mechanic training.
• RaphacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCycling apparel brand partner. Gift in kind donations of cycling kit and accessories.
• SodexominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing various support services.
• HalfordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK bike retailer with 60+ stores acting as drop-off points for bike donations. Partnership makes it easy for people across UK to donate unwanted bikes.
• Colchester InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting skills development and volunteer opportunities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bikes for the World: US-based nonprofit that collects donated bicycles and ships them to development partners in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Closest direct analogue to Re-Cycle's reuse-and-ship model, differing mainly by geography of origin and destination mix.
• World Bicycle Relief: International nonprofit that distributes purpose-built bicycles (Buffalo Bike) to students, health workers, and entrepreneurs across Africa and other developing regions. Comparable mission and end beneficiaries, though WBR manufactures new bikes rather than refurbishing donated ones.
• The Bike Project: UK-based charity that refurbishes donated bikes and donates them to refugees and asylum seekers in London and Birmingham. Direct peer in mission, volunteer refurbishment model, and UK-based collection network.
• Bicycles for Humanity: Canada-origin nonprofit that collects and ships containers of bicycles to African partners for distribution and mechanic training. Comparable container-shipment operating model and African NGO partner ecosystem.
• Free Bikes 4 Kidz: US-based nonprofit that refurbishes and distributes bicycles to children in need through volunteer-led events and community partnerships. Comparable volunteer-driven refurbishment and giveaway model.
• Village Bicycle Project: Long-standing Re-Cycle partner NGO operating in Ghana and Sierra Leone with mechanic training and Learn-to-Ride programs. While technically a partner rather than competitor, its end-bike-distribution and training work directly mirrors Re-Cycle's mission.
• Bicycling Empowerment Network: South African nonprofit running community bike shops and entrepreneur programmes; a 18-year Re-Cycle partner. Its distribution and resale model at the recipient end directly parallels Re-Cycle's workshop and resale arm in the UK.

Regional players

• Qhubeka: South African nonprofit that distributes bicycles to children and community workers, with an earn-a-bike model. Operates in a shared partner geography (South Africa, alongside Re-Cycle's BEN partner) and shares a focus on school access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ReCycleBikeCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/bicyclecharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/re-cycle_2
• Instagraminstagram.com/bicyclecharity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Re-cycle (bikes To Africa)