Gordonstoun students are taking part in a pioneering scheme offering free rides in eBike Trishaws to people with limited ability.
Former student, HM The King, is a supporter of the CWAS (Cycling Without Age Scotland) initiative, which operates in 28 of 32 local authority areas in Scotland.
The environmentally friendly scheme first started in Denmark before being brought to Scotland to help tackle social isolation and loneliness.
Gordonstoun operates a Trishaw service from a care home in Elgin where students, who have already received CWAS’s training, regularly take out passengers in the three-wheeled bikes.
The King heard how the scheme provides a vital lifeline for older people during a visit to Bo’ness in 2023, not long after his coronation.
Working with the local community is one of eight services that every senior student at Gordonstoun takes part in.
The school first began delivering the Trishaw service two years ago and since then twelve students have been trained to take the care residents out on regular trips.
Now, another four students are currently training to become a ‘pilot’ to ride the Trishaws, which will also contribute towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Teacher Chrystelle Main, Community Service Commander at Gordonstoun, said:
“Many of the care residents have dementia and the trips outside help to jog their memory. As well as hearing the birds sing and having the wind through their hair, the trips often take them back to when they were younger.
“It’s wonderful to hear them telling us stories of what Elgin used to be like decades ago. Sometimes we even hear them singing. They get great joy from spending time with our students.
“It’s a great way to bridge the generations between young people and older generations. For people spending most of their time in a care home, the trips outside are one of the highlights of the week for them.
“The majority of the Trishaw pilots are retired and getting our students involved brings in fresh blood.”
The Trishaw is based at Anderson’s Care Home in Elgin, whom Gordonstoun has supported for more than 50 years. The students spend time with the residents every Wednesday at nearby Cooper Park. As a qualified ‘pilot’ they can take up to two residents out on their own on the Trishaw.
Former student Laura Lopez Galvez said:
“CWAS is not only about taking residents outside but also creating new relationships. By going on a regular basis to the care home and taking the residents out on the trishaw, we are also ensuring that they receive at least one visit a week.
“We are making sure that the residents feel important to someone, and more importantly, we are making sure that aging does not make them feel incapable of going outside, enjoying nature and interacting with other people.”
Chrystelle and members of CWAS recently met politicians at the Scottish Parliament to raise awareness about the work of the charity.
The Trishaw service operates 7 days a week and all the pilots are volunteers. There are 150 Trishaws based in almost 100 locations across Scotland and CWAS has ambitions to bring the scheme to many other parts of the country next year.
Christine Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Cycling Without Age Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to be working with students at Gordonstoun, who share our passion for caring for people and for the outdoors and the environment. What we have learned through the years is that young people become really empowered by becoming a Trishaw pilot as they are the ones in control.
“They have to take responsibility for looking after older people in a Trishaw and they learn so much from them. It’s truly illuminating for the students. The intergenerational aspect is one of the most important and unusual features of CWAS’ activity, as very few other organisations offer this opportunity.
“We were delighted to have the opportunity to show HM The King what we do when he visited Bo’ness in July 2023, not long after he became King.
“As a passionate supporter of the environment, the King was hugely enthusiastic about the scheme.
“He was keen to hear how we are providing a lifeline for older people in helping to tackle social isolation.
“The King was delighted to meet the young gala Queen and a 98-year-old lady who was gala Queen back in 1933. They both shared a Trishaw ride and it was a wonderful opportunity to show how the scheme can connect young people with the older generation.”
Categories: Gordonstoun School News
