Up-Cycles Charitable Trust (Up-Cycles) has been supported by local businesses to buy a new van in what the founder called an “incredible donation” and a “game changer” for the fledgling charity.

Up-Cycles refurbishes, repairs and adapts second hand bikes and distributes them to those in need in Central and Southland, including recognised seasonal employees, neurodiverse learners and those without reliable transport.

Founder and managing director Chris Foggin (Foggie) reached out to the community for leads to access funding because the 24-year-old van, personally donated by him, was too small and too expensive to run.

“We now cover many more kilometres and require a bigger cargo capacity to carry bikes and gear.”

The new van, officially handed over last week in Queenstown, was funded by The Hugo Charitable Trust (Hugo Trust), Rothbury Insurance Brokers Southern Lakes (RIBSL), Central Otago Motor Group (COMG), and Hyundai.

“[It’s] difficult to express our gratitude in words, however this is a game changer for our charity,” Foggie said.

“We will now be able to travel further at a more economic rate, carry more bikes and equipment, and this will also be a launch pad to enable future education programmes we want to deliver in our community.

“It’s just epic for our charity and the people who have made this happen are helping to make a huge difference in our communities.”

A bike donated by Central mountain bike expert Phil Oliver. PHOTO: Supplied

Up-Cycles first corporate sponsor Rothbury Insurance Brokers Southern Lakes (RIBSL) is a tenant of a Hugo Trust owned building.

All of the rent RIBSL pays to Hugo Trust goes to charity.

RIBSL branch manager Jason Bodmin approached Hugo Trust and shared the Up-Cycles story in the hope of garnering more support for the cause.

Hugo Trust chief executive officer and trustee Aoibhean Monaghan said with the growth in cycling and all the benefits associated with it they were keen to help. 

Up-Cycles, which started in December 2022 and largely operates from a shipping container, gained official legal status as a charitable trust in October 2023, thanks to the support of Aspiring Law. 

Maryanne Green, the eldest daughter of Irish philanthropist and businessman the late Hugh Green, known in Ireland as Hugo, founded the Hugo Charitable Trust in May 2017 to continue Hugh’s philanthropic legacy and to give back to the people of New Zealand. 

Since 2017 the trust has donated over $16 million to charitable causes around New Zealand.

To find out more about Up-Cycles contact Foggie on [email protected].

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