Older people enjoy cycling adventures thanks to 'Pedal People'

A Brighton, Hove and Shoreham home care company for older people is using a local service so that the elderly can enjoy cycle rides.
Pedal PeoplePedal People
Pedal People

Home Instead in Brighton, Hove and Shoreham is the first home care company to use the service.

Every week one of the care home's clients benefit from a ride in the fresh air by one of the charity’s ‘cycle pilots’.

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Pedal People uses volunteer cycle pilots to ride out with older people, so they can feel the wind in their hair. It also gives them a rare chance to enjoy an outdoor adventure and is the perfect ‘socially-distanced’ activity to counteract the loneliness and boredom felt by many who are shielding or self-isolating.

The charity’s special cycles enable older people to experience the places and nature close-up and chat with passers-by. They run several rides a day, often for residents in care homes, year-round. All pilots are also trained to support people living with Dementia. Everyone who has been on one of the rides, says they enjoy the physical and mental well-being benefits.

Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham made a donation to Pedal People during the charity’s start-up phase three years ago to support the great idea. It has made a further donation to enable the charity to start extending its work.

Liz Brackley, director of Home Instead Brighton, Hove and Shoreham, said: ‘We have loved working with Pedal People and are looking forward to extend our work with the charity, so that even more of our Clients can enjoy the benefits of this fun, outdoor experience. Everyone at the charity has gone out of their way to make our clients feel comfortable during every ride and they are so thrilled both during and after the journey. It’s definitely an amazing activity for older people and gets them out of their homes where they can make the most of our city."

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