The festive season is a time for being together, sharing good food and showing people how much we love them. It’s also an opportunity to think about those who may be experiencing the season very differently.
For many refugees and people seeking asylum, life in the UK can mean being separated from loved ones, navigating an unfamiliar place and living on as little as £9.95 a week. When money is this tight, even the cost of travelling to a doctor’s appointment or going to English class can be a challenge.
If you’re looking for meaningful Christmas gifts for refugees, a bicycle could make a real difference. At The Bike Project, we believe a bike offers more than a way to get from A to B:
“It has given me so much more than just a bicycle – it has given me confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. Receiving a bike as a gift allowed me to feel free in society, explore my community, and even join a cycling group where I’ve met wonderful people.”
This Christmas, you can help make that possible. Our Gifts for Refugees range offers meaningful Christmas gifts for refugees and people seeking asylum, with every gift helping someone move forward on their journey.
You’ll receive a PDF e-card with your gift, which you can download, print or share with a loved one.
What’s more, the first £12,500 of donations made are being matched by a group of generous donors – doubling your impact, and helping support even more people.
Our Gifts for Refugees have previously been featured in The Guardian, including by chef and writer Yotam Ottolenghi, as well as MoneySavingExpert.
Christmas Gifts for Refugees
Buy a Bike Lock
A bicycle can be a lifeline, so keeping it safe is essential – especially when 1 in 50 people have had their bike stolen.
For someone who relies on their bike to get to appointments, collect food or travel to English lessons, having it stolen could mean losing their main form of transport.
By gifting a bike lock, you could help someone protect their independence and continue getting where they need to go.
Buy a Cycling Safety Kit for a Refugee
Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident on the road.
Every person we support receives a cycling safety kit – a lock, helmet and lights – to help them ride safely and confidently, day or night. These essentials help make cycling more accessible, giving people greater reassurance as they get used to navigating their new surroundings.
A cycling safety kit might seem like a simple gift, but it can make a big difference to someone’s everyday journeys.
£30 could gift a cycle safety kit
Buy a Pedal Power Lesson for a Woman Refugee
3 in 10 people The Bike Project supports are women and girls. Many come from areas where they haven’t had the opportunity to ride a bike, or where cultural and social barriers have made cycling less accessible.
Through our Pedal Power programme, women can learn to cycle in a supportive environment. Lessons help them build skills, confidence and independence at their own pace.
Your donation could gift a cycling lesson, which could help a woman discover new possibilities. Whether she’s learning to balance for the first time or gaining confidence on local roads, every lesson can open new opportunities.
£60 could gift a Pedal Power lesson
Buy a Bike for a Refugee Child
Remember the excitement of getting your first bike? The freedom of riding around with friends, exploring your neighbourhood and discovering just how far you could go?
Every child deserves the chance to experience that.
For a child settling into a new country, a bicycle can offer opportunities to play with others, explore their neighbourhood and make happy memories.
Your donation could buy a bike for a child refugee, giving them the chance to have something they can call their own.
Buy a Bike for a Refugee
For refugees and people seeking asylum, a bike can transform everyday life.
It can make it easier to reach food banks, travel to doctor appointments, access legal advice and get to English classes. For those who are granted refugee status, a bike can also help open up opportunities to find work.
When money is limited, having a free and reliable way to travel can make an enormous difference. But the impact goes beyond the practical. Being able to travel independently can help someone feel more connected to their community, take control of their daily routine and begin rebuilding their life.
A bicycle may be an everyday possession for many of us, but for someone facing the challenges of starting again in an unfamiliar place, it can represent a fresh start.
Your £250 gift is the equivalent of repairing and refurbishing a second-hand bike for a refugee to use.
