Local woman aims to combat loneliness in older people through 'Cycling Without Age'

A new initiative in the borough is aiming to end loneliness in older residents – by offering free bike rides to local nursing home residents on a specially adapted ‘trishaw’.

Rochdale Cycling Without Age is a local group borne out of the global Cycling Without Age movement, which tackles the loneliness and isolation experienced by senior citizens when they become confined to their own homes.

Having recently reached the UK, Cycling Without Age was launched in Copenhagen in 2012 by Ole Kassow, enabling volunteers to visit local care and senior citizen facilities around the community to offer residents an opportunity to be a passenger.

Since launching, communities over the UK have been inspired to rally together and fund more trishaws so that they can offer local elderly residents the freedom to get outdoors and explore the world around them. 

Started by Dianne David, who used to work in the adult care sector, Rochdale Cycling Without Age is aiming to raise its first £10,000 for the uniquely designed trishaw – a three-wheel cycle with a passenger cab in front. So far, she’s raised over £1,000 by virtually tackling the 268-mile Pennine Way.

Dianne, of Littleborough, is in the process of applying for charitable status, and is keen for the initiative to make a difference.

According to the Campaign to EndLoneliness, there are four million lonely older people in the UK – and this is increasing. It says half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all; 59% of those aged 85 and over, and 38% of those aged 75 – 84, live alone; and two fifths of older people say the television is their main source of company.

Whilst Rochdale Cycling Without Age is in its early days, interest has already been shown by local care homes. Dianne plans to start in the Pennines, before hopefully rolling out across the borough - joined by volunteers and additional trishaws.

Dianne said: “Using data from the last census and the ONS mid-year estimates 2010, there are around 13,400 older residents in the Rochdale borough who are likely to be lonely.

“The rides are completely free, comfortable and fully insured. The project is run solely by volunteers so that running costs are kept to a minimum. We want to use the trishaw to get isolated and lonely older people in the borough out on bike rides to help combat loneliness.

“Cycling Without Age benefits everybody by getting out of the house, connecting with nature and having some social interaction. I’m hoping well will have the trishaw by Spring, and then we can work around the current situation to take more people out in the fresh air.

“Hopefully by then, we’ll have a vaccine and we can operate in a Covid-secure way.”

Dianne has also been applying for funding where she can, and has pledged to donate the difference of the cut of funds taken by the crowdfunding site, so that donations cover the cost of the trishaw in full.

She added: “The biggest cost is the cost of the trishaw and we are currently fundraising for our first one.

“We are also looking for volunteers to ‘pilot’ the trishaws, which have electric assist if required.”

To donate, please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/rochdale-cycling-without-age

For more information, or to express interest in volunteering, please contact Rochdale Cycling Without Age via Facebook or email rochdale@cyclingwithoutage.org.uk