"It's just great to get out, to be alongside the water with people passing, children passing. Great! Passenger Mary
WHAT WE DO
CWAS (originally known as Cycling Without Age Scotland) is Scotland’s representative within the global Cycling Without Age, which is headquartered in Denmark. National representatives are referred to by our Danish colleagues as “Country Chapters”, just as branches within any country are known as “Chapters”.
CWAS is highly regarded by other Country Chapters, not just for its success but for the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations. CWAS is in fact the only Cycling Without Age country chapter anywhere in the world that receives central government funding and has been supported by the Scottish Government since our development phase in 2017.
In fact the Scottish Government was so impressed by our trials that it asked CWAS to roll-out the project across the whole of Scotland. This was not only because the government could see clearly the outstanding benefits that our activity brings to society’s health and wellbeing, especially to the elderly who are too often overlooked, but because it recognised the need to ensure delivery of the service consistently, countrywide, at the highest possible levels of safety and governance. With its desire to see the operation in as many parts of Scotland as possible, the government also recognised the value of an over-arching organisation that could enthuse and drive that growth.
Supported by
We regard CWAS as an inspirer, facilitator, supporter, fundraiser, provider and regulator.
It has been proved time and time again, that the most successful Chapters (branches) are those that have grown from “grass roots”, i.e. from a group that develops the passion to have a Trishaw or Trishaws in its community. We never approach anyone to set up a Chapter because having enthusiastic and motivated potential Chapter members already on board is essential, but we do try to get our message out as widely as possible in order to encourage groups or individuals to consider forming a Chapter.
What we then do is provide services and expertise to support the Chapter’s development and its ongoing activity. That includes, for example, support with fundraising, the constitution and operations of the Chapter, recruitment of volunteers, PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) clearances for all its members, financial management and its marketing and publicity – and crucially importantly, providing its Trishaw/s, technical expertise, training and insurance.
From the moment we provide a Chapter with its Trishaw we are available at all times to maintain it technically, as well as carrying out its annual technical inspection. We provide comprehensive training, free of charge, to every Trishaw rider (known as a Pilot) so that they are confident and safe in the Trishaw’s use, as are their passengers, and our project-wide insurance ensures that everyone officially connected with CWAS is protected. From our earliest days we have ensured that all CWAS’ activities meet the Care Inspectorate’s high standards.
We know that our brilliant volunteers just want to get out there, riding the Trishaw, giving enormous pleasure to their passengers, building bonds and friendships and thoroughly enjoying the camaraderie, the fresh air and the exercise. Our role is to free them up as much as possible from “the admin.” to ensure that they get to do exactly that – but with confidence in their abilities and knowledge, at the highest level of safety and with our support all the way.
