Get involved as a Volunteer
Our volunteers are of course CWAS’ lifeblood. From everything we hear, we know that they find their CWAS experience exceptional, and we’ve seen so many truly wonderful friendships develop between volunteers and passengers.
Anyone wishing to support CWAS as a volunteer is very warmly welcome. That could be with the administrative, publicity or ride-booking etc. functions for a Chapter (branch) or, in the most common form of volunteering, as a Pilot, a Trishaw rider.
Let’s be 100% clear straightaway: you do not have to be an experienced cyclist nor super fit nor super strong! Virtually anyone aged 16 and upwards can become a CWAS Trishaw Pilot and the rewards are simply amazing.
Our Trishaws are electric bikes which can provide power assistance. If you do happen to be super strong and fit, you can use very little assistance – but most people find that some amount of assistance is invaluable and makes the rides even more enjoyable. You also don’t need to worry if your balance isn’t great, as these are 3-wheeled vehicles which assist your balance, and this really uplifting activity is also a wonderful form of gentle exercise that will help improve your fitness. On top of all that, there’s a wonderful camaraderie between Pilots and passengers and with other Pilots too: this is an activity that brings like-minded people together to care for others, to make their day and to have huge fun.
Our two principal priorities are that you have a thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling experience; and that you stay safe. So every would-be Pilot receives completely free but comprehensive training in riding the Trishaw, learns what s/he needs to know about the Trishaw and gets clear advice about managing passengers. The training is provided by HQ’s specialist staff, by highly experienced volunteer Pilots in Chapters who have been trained as trainers or by those of our Ambassadors who are highly experienced volunteer Pilots and have trained as Trainers. The training will often be within the individual Chapter (branch) or at one of our “Train together” days where we bring volunteers together to a central point. These take place approximately every quarter, normally in a central location.
START A CHAPTER
Operating a Chapter is fun and hugely fulfilling and, if you want to do this, you will be supported at every stage by the CWAS team, with all organisational aspects, from financial management and insurance (which CWAS provides) to ideas and support for a strong promotional campaign and your Chapter launch. We can provide a comprehensive guide to Setting Up A Chapter. Please just ask for that at info@cwas.org
There are various considerations to be taken into account, the most important being whether or not there is already a Chapter operating in your area, is the area suitable for Trishaw-accessible routes and do you have enough like-minded volunteers to get the Chapter set-up and under way? It is also essential that you have a Chapter Captain and Chapter Administrator lined up.
Assuming successful outcomes to those considerations, you’ll be able to get under way!
