How FixX Bikes is Changing Young Lives in Hartcliffe

A cycle business that started life in a garage near Morrisons in Hartcliffe has grown into a thriving social enterprise which has trained more than 250 young people in bike mechanics.

FixX Bikes now employs four mechanics, two youth workers and local young people, supported by a dedicated team of 15 volunteers.

The journey hasn’t been straightforward. After securing its first space at Hartcliffe Community Farm, plans were thrown into disarray when their landlord was evicted.

Young people working outside the old FixX workshop at Hartcliffe Farm

However, resilience is at the core of FixX’s ethos. Granted a lease for a disused CCTV security building by Bristol City Council, the team worked with local volunteers and tradespeople to transform it into a state-of-the art bike workshop – rooted firmly in the community it serves.

“There were so few visible businesses in the area – we want to challenge the narrative that ‘there’s nothing in Hartcliffe’,” explains founder David Cousins.

FixX has grown from a volunteer-led initiative into a dynamic organisation employing six workers, and local young people, supported by dedicated volunteers. It is now open six days per week – every day carrying out professional repairs and selling high quality refurbished bikes while training young people.

FixX staff and volunteers in the current workshop

At its heart is a simple but powerful model: every young person who joins the programme repairs two bikes. One they keep. One is refurbished and sold to support the next participant. Along the way, they gain practical skills, build relationships, and gain experience in a real working environment.

Since opening, more than 250 young people aged 11–25 have completed the mechanics training programme – each leaving with more than a bike – greater confidence, purpose, and resilience.

“It’s about providing a stepping stone,“ says David, “Building confidence and a sense of purpose, and learning how to deal with life’s inevitable knockbacks.”

For young person Logan, FixX became exactly that stepping stone. Initially drawn in by a love of bikes and a sense that “there was nothing better to do,” he quickly found purpose in the workshop.

“I like the atmosphere being laid back. I’m into bikes anyway, so it’s interesting – and it felt like there was more point than at other youth projects,” he says.

When Logan began struggling at school, the FixX team supported him to refocus on his ambition of becoming an electrician, encouraging him to prioritise maths and science. When his bike broke and he couldn’t attend extra study sessions, FixX helped him earn a new one through the programme.

Logan went on to get involved in youth-led climate work, representing FixX at a city event and helping to create a community garden next to the workshop. In 2025, he secured a Saturday job at FixX while studying an electrical course at college.

“I love having work that is local, in a place I already know and feel comfortable,” he says. “It’s helping me build confidence and get ready for whatever comes next.”

Stories like Logan’s are at the core of FixX’s mission – showing what young people are capable of when given the opportunity.

Young person after completing the programme

By buying a refurbished bike or booking a repair, customers directly support this work – helping fund training for the next generation while investing in a stronger, more positive Hartcliffe.

To find out more, buy a bike or book a service, contact [email protected] or call 07588 492154.