HMP Fosse Way: our journey so far

Currently, we run our Bikes Beyond Bars programme in HMP Bristol; taking bike donations into the prison and training prisoners to become accredited bike mechanics. These bikes are then sold to the community or donated to refugees through our Bikes Beyond Borders programme. Providing meaningful work means that prisoners are upskilled, stand a better chance of employment upon release, and are less likely to re-offend.  

Fosse Way

Fosse Way is a Category C prison, where the prisoners are low risk, coming to the end of their sentences, and beginning to transition back into the community. Some men are given training and opportunities for Release on Temporary License (ROTL). This could be doing work experience in Tesco, a home visit, or attending a course. Life Cycle is now part of this training scheme.  

John Russell, Life Cycle’s Prison Learning & Skills Manager, says:

“If you've been in prison for 18 years, how do you interact with the world? The more responsibility and agency you give a prisoner, the more likely they are to be successful in their transition.’’

The charity delivers industry-accredited bike mechanics qualifications up to Level Two. This gives prisoners opportunities for paid work in the workshop as, if they show promise, they can progress onto the job of refurbishing bikes. The workshop is split into two; half training, and half repairing bikes.  

Since launching in September, Life Cycle has delivered 16 Level Two and 21 Level One qualifications at Fosse Way, worked with 23 men (several of which have expressed an interest in staying involved with Life Cycle on the outside), and produced 225 bikes.  

Opportunities after release

Life Cycle has also identified potential ROTL opportunities; whether that’s going out to volunteer in Life Cycle’s Hub in Derby or transporting bikes between Fosse Way and Derby. John adds:

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‘’The men could volunteer and learn more customer service skills in our workshops, or work in partnership with the prison. They could potentially be driving vans, to transport our bikes between Fosse Way and Derby. All of this isn’t happening now, it’s something we could plan for in future.’’

Thanks to our staff and volunteers, we’ve successfully run Bikes Beyond Bars for 14 years. Prisoners who’ve taken part in our courses, have voiced that they’d like to progress with further training after release, learn more about bike mechanics, and, in a broader sense, say they’ve gained confidence and feel more brightly about the future. We feel hopeful that the same impact will be true of Fosse Way.  

“The Course has raised my confidence in identifying cycle problems and resolving them. It got me out of cell and doing something I can use when I get out. I now want to work in the bike industry.” - Mike, ex-prisoner.  

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