Today (October 1st) is Older People’s Day and a group of care home residents in Trafford are showing age is no barrier to having fun.
The residents have been travelling in style thanks to a new cycling initiative.
Trained pilots from Cycling Without Age (CWA) took residents from Fairways Care Home, Church Road, Urmston out on specially designed passenger bikes. The elderly passengers were provided with blankets to keep them warm as they enjoyed a tour of the local environment – and were delighted by the outing.
Carolyn Howe’s mum, Joan, was one of the residents to go out in the trishaws and even bumped into her daughter as they cycled along.
Carolyn said: “She absolutely loved it. My mum doesn’t go out much because she’s quite frail and needs a stick so I was thrilled to hear about it.
“She keeps talking about it when we meet and she can’t wait to go out again.”
The residents were accompanied on the journey by Rosie Ince, the Activities Co-Ordinator at The Fairways, which is part of the Knoll Care Partnership.
Rosie said: “We all had a fantastic time getting out and about in our local area and reminiscing as we were out and about. The residents all enjoyed it and it was a real talking point when we got back.”
Councillor Joanne Harding, Trafford Council Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It is fantastic to hear how the much the residents enjoyed the trishaw ride. Initiatives like these are greatly appreciated by residents and their families and are to be applauded.”
First established in Denmark in 2012, CWA is a voluntary community group based in Trafford, offering the thrill of cycling to the elderly and mobility impaired on the specially adapted trishaws.
Chapter Co-Captain Kate Elliott said: “It was fantastic to take the trishaw out for its maiden voyage with passengers and we were delighted by the giggles, waves and enjoyment had by us all. It was exactly what we’d hoped it would be!”
CWA Trafford is looking to engage with more care homes and other organisations to bring the joy of cycling to the elderly residents of Trafford.
For more information about CWA, visit https://cyclingwithoutage.org.uk/trafford/
Posted on Monday 1st October 2018