NEWS
LATEST AND UPCOMING
On Friday morning, 20th June 2025, an event took place which could literally change the lives of thousands of people. It was the opening of a new CWAS Chapter in Glasgow’s iconic Botanic Gardens.
This will offer Trishaw rides all round the Botanic Gardens, substantially increasing the accessibility of the stunning site, as well as along Kelvinside Way. Rides – which are of course completely free – will be available to anyone in the area who meets the appropriate criteria, and especially residents in local care facilities. Care homes in Bearsden, Drumchapel and Mosspark have already taken part in pre-launch trials.
This development is part of CWAS’ “Trishaw Rides in Iconic Places” (TRIIP) programme which is designed to improve the accessibility of as many of
Scotland’s iconic visitor sites as possible. CWAS has already created TRIIP sites at Helix Park, home of the Kelpies, at Dundee Waterfront and the Antonine Wall and several more are in preparation.
Christine Bell, CWAS' CEO, gives Bob Doris MSP and Glasgow City Councillor Laura Doherty (City Convener for Neighbourhoods Services and Assets) a Trishaw ride.
As Christine Bell, CWAS’ CEO, explained of the TRIIP programme: “We are enabling anyone with limited mobility, or living with loneliness or isolation, to explore some of the most uplifting and inspiring visitor sites that Scotland has to offer. Without our amazing Trishaws, they simply wouldn’t be able to. This can be local people or visitors, as we’re also of course promoting accessible tourism and, so, supporting both the local and national economy.”
Attendees at the opening included Glasgow City Councillor Laura Doherty, City Convener for Neighbourhoods Services and Assets, Kirsty Garrett, Sports Development and Physical Activity Manager at Glasgow Life, and Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, who “cut the ribbon” (or, more accurately, the bunting!).
Bob Doris said: I am delighted to have opened this iconic new CWAS Chapter here in our amazing Botanic Gardens. I’m a great admirer of the unique service that CWAS provides in virtually every part of Scotland for people of all ages who have to contend with mobility issues or loneliness, as well as the unusual and truly fulfilling volunteering opportunities it creates. That we now have a CWAS branch operating right here in our own Botanic Gardens, making everything that this superb venue has to offer accessible to even more people, is really exciting.”
Ray Burr, CWAS’ Operations and Development Manager, added: “We have so many people to thank for their support in making this happen, especially Andrew Sinclair and Vince Kelly of the Botanic Gardens’ management team, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life. Special thanks also go to NWH Group which sponsored the solar panel kit that we’re piloting here at the Botanic Gardens. A self-contained system that, on site, routes directly from panel to power bank to battery could revolutionise and dramatically simplify how we charge our Trishaw batteries. With 136 Trishaws already in use across the country on a daily basis, and more coming on stream all the time, this is a major element in our operation.”
The new Botanics Gardens CWAS Chapter is now up and running, providing rides and welcoming passengers and volunteers from anywhere in Glasgow or beyond.
COMING UP
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR OLDER PEOPLE - October 1st 2025
Keep an eye out for our conference at Panmure House in Edinburgh, presented in association with The Ageing Lab at Heriot Watt University, which will explore “ageing well” and, in line with this year’s International Day’s theme, focus on and celebrate the role that older people play in creating resilient, sustainable societies.
CWAS GRAND GATHERING 2025 - October 3rd 2025
The 2025 version of our national summit, this year in Clackmannanshire, will again bring together volunteers from all round the country to inspire and learn from each other, to chat vigorously, to hear from experts and, of course, to carry out a record-breaking long ride, each year with even more Trishaws! (36 and counting). Watch this space for details. This event is for CWAS members only, though members’ guests will be very welcome, space permitting.
