Cycle Access Fund strand 4: Repairs FAQs
Please ensure you have read the Cycle Access Fund General FAQs as information is not repeated here.
Use the questions below to find out who can apply, how the funding works, and what’s expected from applicants and owners of funded repaired bikes.
- What is the Cycle Access Fund – Strand 4: Repairs?
- How does the funding work?
- How do we report on the repairs that we do?
- Who is eligible for a repair funded by this strand?
- What types of repairs are included?
- Is there a limit on how many bikes a customer can bring in for repair?
- What happens if the repairs cost more than £100?
- Can the customer use this strand of funding for other purchases, such as bike upgrades or accessories?
1. What is the Cycle Access Fund – Strand 4: Repairs?
This strand provides funding to bike repair organisations, bike shops, and bike recycling centres to repair cycles for people who are financially struggling and would not otherwise be able to make their bike safe and roadworthy.
2. How does the funding work?
You may apply for funding of up to a maximum of £2000 per application. From this grant allocation CAF will fund up to £100 per repair for people who are financially struggling.
When you have spent and reported on 75% of that funding you will be able to apply for further funding if still available. Further funding is not guaranteed.
3. How do we report on the repairs that we do?
We require you to fill in an online monitoring form for each repair that you do. The monitoring form will ask for details of the repairs undertaken, the email address and postcode of the new owner.
It is vital that these forms are returned as soon as possible and must be provided within five working days of each repair.
We will send you a fortnightly report of your spend against the grant and check in with you monthly to see how many repairs have been completed.
4. Who is eligible for a repair funded by this strand?
The funding is targeted at people whose cycle is unsafe and unusable, and which requires significant repairs (eg. replacement of parts which are broken or worn out) to make it safe and roadworthy. It is intended to reach people who are financially struggling where the costs of bike repairs can be a barrier to cycling.
You know your community best and we trust your professional judgement of their needs. This scheme does not use means testing and people do not need to provide any proof of income to receive free repairs through the Cycle Access Fund.
5. What types of repairs are included?
In 2026-27, CAF funding cannot be used to pay for basic maintenance or servicing. The funding should be used to pay for essential repairs which make a bike that was unsafe and unusable safe and roadworthy again, by replacing parts that were worn out or broken.
The following repairs can be covered:
- Repairing or replacing tyres, tubes, wheels and related components
- Adjusting, repairing or replacing brake system components
- Adjusting, repairing or replacing transmission system components
- Repairing or replacing other essential components which prevent safe use of the cycle
The following repairs are NOT covered:
- Basic maintenance or servicing
- Sale of replacement parts without any repair work
- Replacement or upgrade of existing safe and roadworthy components
- Replacement or repair of removeable lighting accessories
- Using the funding to contribute to the purchase of cycles or accessories
- Any repairs to e-bike electronic units
- Bike building
- Dr Bike sessions
6. Is there a limit on how many bikes a customer can bring in for repair?
No. For the scheme to reach as many people as possible we would encourage only one cycle be repaired per person. However, if a parent/carer brings in multiple individual bikes for their family, you can service them all using CAF grant funding. You know your community best and we trust your professional judgement of their needs.
7. What happens if the repairs cost more than £100?
£100 is the maximum cost for parts and labour - per bike repair - that the Cycle Access Fund can support. Any additional costs above £100 are not covered by the Cycle Access Fund. We recommend that all repair costs are agreed in advance with the customer.
8. Can the customer use this strand of funding for other purchases, such as bike upgrades or accessories?
No. The Cycle Access Fund can only be used for costs directly associated with repair (e.g. labour and parts). It cannot be transferred to other purchases.
We have separate strands that can support offering free bikes through Strand 1: Individual Ownership and Strand 3: Recycle. These must be applied to directly.
