Cycling Without Age Hurst & Hassocks

Aim

We are still raising funds to to purchase a Trishaw for the benefit of the whole community particularly lonely elderly residents.

Our Crowdfunding has now closed but we are still fundraising ....

Thank you to everyone who supported our Crowdfunding campaign  which raised  £4,053 in 28 days. In addition we have pledges from our local Parish Councils to get us over the line and reach our target of £7,000 once we get to £6,250 and other local charities have said they will help us, but we would really appreciate your support too.

You can help you can donate by:

1. Send a cheque made  payable to 'Cycling Without Age  Hurst & Hassocks'  to Cycling Without Age c/o

Proper Cycling Coffee,  26 Keymer Road, Hassocks, BN6 8AN

2. Make a bank transfer to:

Account name: Cycling Without Age Hurst and Hassocks

Account number: 28163068

Sort Code: 30-90-99

We are a voluntary community group raising funds to purchase a Trishaw for the benefit of the whole community, but  particularly lonely elderly residents.

We are part of the global initiative Cycling Without Age. Founded in Copenhagen in 2012  Cycling Without Age brings generations closer together by sharing experiences by bike. The specially designed Trishaw allows local volunteers ( know as Pilots) to take elderly residents out as passengers.

Cycling Without Age is  growing rapidly in 30 countries worldwide and we want to bring this fantastic initiative to  Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks.

Who we are

I'm Bridget Hamilton and last September I  was inspired  by a talk given by  Ole Kassow, Founder of Cycling Without Age. He enthused about the wonderful benefits Cycling Without Age brings to elderly people who spend a lot of time in doors and frequently on their own.  If you came to his talk in Hassock on 9th Feb, you'll know what an impressive speaker he is. with so much energy!

Getting older people out in the fresh air,  with the wind in their hair and providing an opportunity to make new friends sounded so brilliant  I just had to do something to bring Trishaws to the people of Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks .

Our  Team

Bridget Hamilton, Debbie Schlup,  Ross McCracken, Beccy Henderson

How it works

I've become a 'registered affiliate' of Cycling Without Age, which means I have been granted the privilege of starting a 'Chapter' of Cycling Without Age  in Hurstpierpoint & Hassocks. There is now a small team of us talking  with local care homes and local groups that  work with the elderly about how we can start taking them out for rides and encouraging new inter-generational friendships.

We'll  also be training up and managing the local volunteers who will be taking their parents and grandparents and other elderly people on bike rides, out of their homes and back into the community. All Pilots will be DBS checked. 

Obviously safety is paramount so rides will be along approved routes involving quieter roads. These routes will all  involve a stop for refreshments at a either a cafe or pub, depending on the passenger's preference.  And the Trishaw doesn't have to go out on its own, we'll encourage friends and family to cycle alongside and envisage that  going forward we'll have more than one  so  group outings will be possible.

By introducing this scheme in Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks we  hope to:

- Build a stronger local community

- Tackle issues of social isolation amongst the elderly

- Create more involved and active citizens

-  Encourage inter-generational friendships

- Have fun!

Our principles

Generosity, slow cycling, storytelling, relationships and community.  

The Trishaw

Trishaws are specially designed bikes with a motor so that the Pilot does not need to be super fit! In fact the idea is to travel slowly  so it's easy for passengers and Pilots to talk to each other and also for interaction with passing pedestrians, dog walkers etc. 

How you can help

Please consider donating to our project so together we can start improving the lives of local people in  Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks. Your donation will be helping so many elderly isolated people get out and about and not only put a smiles on their faces but also, we hope,  bring some joy to everyone who sees the bike.  

Alongside raising the funding for our Trishaws we also seek volunteer Pilots, helpers and businesses who can help spread awareness of our exciting project.  Please email [email protected] to get involved.

This project successfully funded on 19th February 2018