Located in Ottawa, Canada, Cycle Salvation is a social enterprise that trains people with disabilities or low incomes in bike mechanics. The result is the creation if jobs for people who have been denied access to the mainstream employment sector. Furthermore, by refurbishing donated bicycles, Cycle Salvation reuses bikes that would have otherwise been thrown away to sit in landfill sites. Using a multi-point inspection process, the final bicycle is sold from $100 to $200.
Operating under Causeway Work Centre, which is a community development organization, Cycle Salvation is physically located within re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op, which is a non-profit community bike shop that allows for people to learn to repair bikes.
Cycle Salvation doesn't simply train people in bike mechanics, but also in life skills, work habits and self-confidence. The long-term vision is that those who pass through the enterprise's program will eventually find jobs in the bike industry.
Cycle Salvation explicitly adheres to the triple bottom line concept, which measures success in terms of three pillars: people, planet and profit. At Cycle Salvation, old bikes get new life, while at the same time creating new jobs for people who would otherwise not be employed.
Contact Information:
Cycle Salvation Website
473 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa
K1R 6J7
Canada
Telephone: 613-288-1454
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Training-based Social Enterprises
- There is an opportunity for businesses to create training-based social enterprises that provide job opportunities for disadvantaged individuals while addressing social and environmental issues.
- Upcycling and Sustainable Business Models
- Businesses can explore upcycling and sustainable business models, like refurbishing donated items, to reduce waste and create new products or services.
- Triple Bottom Line Approach
- Adopting a triple bottom line approach, which values people, planet, and profit, can help businesses create positive social and environmental impact while generating revenues.
Where This Applies
- Social Enterprises
- The social enterprise industry can benefit from creating job training programs for disadvantaged individuals, addressing social issues, and contributing to sustainable development.
- Cycling Industry
- The cycling industry can explore opportunities to create job training programs, embrace sustainable practices, and contribute to social and environmental causes.
- Sustainability and Environmental Services
- The sustainability and environmental services industry can explore partnerships with social enterprises that focus on upcycling and waste reduction to create a positive impact on the environment and society.
