Building bikes. Rebuilding lives.
Inside prisons and schools, the same craft that builds a bike builds skills, confidence and the family ties that help people not return.
A real workshop, inside.
Inside HMP Lowdham Grange — a Category-B men's prison in Nottinghamshire — we've built a 2,000 sq ft workshop where learners take a six-week, OCN-accredited course: from workshop safety and material science through frame construction, mechanics and finishing.
They earn an OCN Level 2 accreditation in sustainable design and manufacturing. Trusted learners are trained as instructors and help deliver the course. In the final week, frames are taken apart so the materials serve the next cohort — which is also what keeps it affordable.
A bike that goes home.
The most engaged participants progress to Build to Bond — building a children's bamboo balance bike to gift to their own son, daughter, niece or nephew. That bike they keep. The bike goes home; the father stays inside.
It's built on the evidence that maintaining family contact is one of the strongest predictors of reduced reoffending — prisoners who keep close family ties are 39% less likely to reoffend (Lord Farmer Review, 2017).
Watching the pride on a father's face when he presents a bike to his child is something special.
— Sally Allsopp, Industries ManagerNow inside three prisons — and growing.
Build to Bond runs now at HMP Lowdham Grange, and is rolling out to HMP Lindholme and HMP Foston Hall — delivered hand-in-hand with the prison teams.
In partnership with HM Prison & Probation Service
From prisons to Patagonia.
The same craft shows up everywhere — on epic journeys, in boardrooms, in classrooms and across the world.
PrisonInside HMP Lowdham Grange, fathers build a bamboo balance bike for the child waiting at home.
PressThe FT on Build to Bond at HMP Lowdham Grange — and public backing from Prisons Minister James Timpson.
PressInside Time — read in every prison in the UK — on the Build to Bond workshop at HMP Lowdham Grange.
Epic journeyKate Rawles rode a BBC-built bamboo bike the length of South America for The Life Cycle.
Epic journeyThe 2 by Bamboo team crossed six countries on home-built bamboo bikes for charity.
Epic journeyTom and Nicky rode bamboo bikes across the world, raising funds for MSF.
CorporateA distillery team built ten bamboo bikes together — craft meeting craft.
EducationLeading the national conversation on bamboo's future in engineering and design.
EducationMasters students engineered a bamboo e-cargo bike to carry 150kg.
GlobalSkills that stay behind — communities building and maintaining their own bamboo bikes.
GlobalA UK–Africa bamboo bicycle exchange at the Birmingham festival.
InclusionJon's story of determination and craft — proof anyone can build.
ExhibitionBBC's aerodynamic bamboo racing bike on permanent display in London.
More than a bike — a pathway.
Education
OCN-accredited Level 1 & 2 training in sustainable manufacturing — a nationally recognised qualification, earned hands-on.
Employment
Routes into sustainable transport, manufacturing and composites — with growing employer links and support into work on release.
Rehabilitation
Therapeutic, focused making builds patience and resilience — and strengthens family connection through Build to Bond.
Innovative projects, such as Build to Bond, support rehabilitation and help people leave prison as better citizens.
— Lord Timpson, Prisons MinisterThree ways to be part of it.
Every route — buying, partnering or funding — creates measurable change.
Build or own a bike
Book a workshop or buy a kit. Every purchase helps fund our prison and education programmes.
Shop & book →Work with us
Programmes for prisons, schools and colleges. OCN Level 2 accredited, with a self-delivery model for prisons.
Explore partnerships →Fund or champion
Fund a cohort, offer placements, or champion our work. £11.41 of social value for every £1 invested.
Talk to us →Reported and backed
“Finding employment after release reduces the chance of reoffending significantly.”
Lord James Timpson, UK Prisons Minister · Financial Times, September 2025
“A truly inspiring cohort, delivering meaningful impact in their communities.”
Ruth Leas, CEO, Investec Bank · Investec Beyond Business 2025
As featured in
…and featured in 40+ publications — see all coverage →
Build to Bond is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund and Investec Beyond Business.
Help us build a more inclusive, skilled future.
Every bamboo bike built is a skill learned, a confidence gained, and a pathway opened.
See the work behind the numbers
Every frame starts as raw bamboo and a few hand tools — in our workshops, schools and prison programmes.