Hoddesdon Rotary Club Backs ‘Bikes to Africa’ Scheme to Change Lives One Bike at a Time

Hoddesdon Town FC is proud to support a powerful local initiative that is making a global difference, as the town rallies behind the Re-Cycle: Bikes to Africa scheme. In partnership with Hoddesdon Rotary, the project offers residents a simple but hugely impactful way to transform unused bicycles into life-changing transport for communities across rural Africa.

The initiative poses a straightforward question: “Ever thought what to do with your old bike?” For many households in the UK, bicycles lie forgotten in sheds and garages or are eventually thrown away. Yet for millions of people in Africa, access to even the most basic form of transport can be life-changing.

On Saturday 17 January 2026, between 9.30am and 2pm, Hoddesdon Rotary will be collecting donated bicycles on behalf of Re-Cycle: Bikes to Africa at Duffield Harrison Car Park, 56 High Street, Hoddesdon (opposite St Augustine’s Catholic Church). Hoddesdon Town FC is encouraging members, supporters and the wider community to get involved and help ensure the day is a success.

Why Bikes Matter

The need could not be clearer. Across rural Africa, an estimated 649 million people live in communities where transport options are extremely limited. That’s a population around ten times the size of the UK. For many, daily life involves hours of walking just to reach school, work, markets or water sources. In some areas, the average time spent walking can be as much as four hours per day.

A bicycle dramatically changes this reality. What was once a multi-hour journey on foot can be reduced to a fraction of the time. This not only improves access to education and employment but also has a profound impact on health and wellbeing. Less physical strain, more time to learn, work and care for family – the ripple effects are enormous.

Bikes are also incredibly versatile. They can carry passengers, transport heavy loads, and serve entire families. In regions where fuel is expensive or unavailable, bicycles are a resilient, affordable and sustainable solution.

How Re-Cycle Helps

Re-Cycle: Bikes to Africa specialises in refurbishing good-quality donated bicycles and redistributing them to some of the most rural communities on the continent. These are not simply shipped out and forgotten. Re-Cycle works closely with African partner organisations to ensure bikes are distributed fairly, maintained properly and supported long-term.

Local people are trained as bicycle mechanics, creating skills, employment and sustainability within the communities themselves. This approach ensures that bikes remain in use for years to come, rather than becoming short-term fixes.

The organisation also runs targeted projects to support specific groups, such as students, healthcare workers and small-scale farmers, ensuring that bikes are placed where they can make the greatest difference.

A Local Effort with Global Impact

Our support of the scheme reflects a strong commitment to social responsibility and community action, both locally and internationally. By backing the Rotary-led collection, the Club is helping connect unused local resources with urgent global need.

For residents, taking part could not be easier. If you have an old bike – adult or child – that is no longer used but still has life left in it, bringing it along on collection day could help transform someone’s future.

One donated bicycle might mean a child arriving at school on time, a healthcare worker reaching patients more quickly, or a family gaining precious extra hours each day to earn, learn and enjoy life.

Sometimes, real change starts with something as simple as clearing out the shed.