What We Do – for our Chapters, Volunteers and Passengers
What Cycling Without Age Scotland does NOT do is try to make one model work for every Chapter (branch). Our core aim is always the same: to enhance and enrich lives by giving elderly and disabled people access to the beautiful outdoors through our pioneering trishaw rides, access which is denied to so many people simply because of age or limited mobility. We also maintain the highest and robust standards of safety in all our operations, fully complying with the requirements of the Scottish Care Inspectorate, and develop even further what is already a recognised brand. This allows all who join us to feel and be an integral part of a highly respected Scotland-wide movement.
But we also celebrate individuality.
Chapters
From the outset, we recognised that a Chapter will succeed best if it retains its personal identity, if it can be proud to be a leader in its local community and serves that community in the right way, which it will know more about that anyone else. As the umbrella organisation building the national brand and local, national and international support, but fiercely proud that this is a “grass roots led” organisation, Cycling Without Age Scotland is here to support every individual Chapter, urban or rural, in the ways that it uniquely needs – from fundraising and publicity ideas and marketing advice to banking, technical and mechanical support.
Those we work with include:
- Care Homes and Assisted Living Units
- Sheltered Housing
- Community Groups (constituted and non-constituted)
- High Schools
- Local Authorities
- Sports Hubs
- Health and Social Prescription services
- Individuals who want to set up a Cycling Without Age Scotland group
- People living independently
Setting up and being part of a Chapter is enormously fulfilling and rewarding – and it’s straightforward. What’s more, the Cycling Without Age Team will support and guide you through every step in the process. Please just contact us by clicking here or by e-mailing us at info@cyclingwithoutage.scot or calling us on 01324 467 272
Volunteers
Cycling Without Age Scotland simply could not function without our amazing volunteers, whether it’s Chapter Captains or Volunteer Pilots, Mechanics, Administrators or Trainers. So our other core aim is to do everything in our power to ensure that our volunteers get the most enjoyable and fulfilling experience possible from supporting Cycling Without Age Scotland. Ask any one of the thousands of volunteers who’ve already got involved and s/he’ll almost certainly confirm that it is a truly amazing, uplifting and rewarding experience.
Here are just a few of the words used by a selection of volunteers recently asked to summarise their feelings about Cycling Without Age Scotland:
- Empowering
- Life-affirming
- Rewarding
- Fun
- Engaging
- Exciting
- Heart-warming
- Life-extending
- Happiness
You can find out how YOU can get involved as a volunteer here
Passengers
Just a few comments from our thousands of passengers, elderly and/or disabled of all ages, demonstrate the life-enhancing difference that is being made by our chapters, our volunteers, our supporters and Cycling Without Age Scotland itself:
“I would say that it’s one of the best days of my life.” (Heather Ross)
“It’s just great to get out, to be alongside the water with people passing, children passing. Great!” (Mary Duncan)
“A wonderful experience.” (George McArthur)
“To get to see paths that I know have been opened up but I’ve never had the chance to walk along because I can’t. I saw areas that I never knew existed. I loved it.” (Tracy McNeil)
“I felt really, almost elated … because it’s a long time since I’ve had such a lovely long walk.” (Joy Bell)
To find out more about how you might arrange rides for those very special passengers in your life, please e-mail us at info@cyclingwithoutage.scot or call us on 01324 467 272