We're raising money for our next two trishaws to be based in Kidlington and Blackbird Leys. Here's why;

Social solation has been an issue for many in the past, but in these times with the COVID-19 social distancing measures, many in our county are finding that their isolation has been significantly worsened.

We aim to change this for as many people as possible but need your help.

This year, pre-pandemic, we purchased our first specially built trishaw cycle with the aim of taking people at risk of social isolation out on trishaw rides so that at whatever age, they could experience the wind in their hair and spend time creating happy memories with our volunteer cyclists.

Our aim for our first trishaw is to offer 3 rides per day, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on what the passenger would like to do. That means that just one bike could do around 1,100 cycle rides per year. As each trishaw can carry two passengers that means we could see at least 2,200 local Oxfordshire residents benefit from using our cycles each year.

This is fantastic, but we know we can do better. Which is why we have set the challenge of purchasing three trishaw cycles this year so that we can smash the target we'd have with just one trishaw, and be offering around 6,600 rides per year.

Taking into account the purchase, maintenance and insurance of each specially built trishaw, their price is around £10,000. Which is why, after successfully aquiring our first trishaw, we are raising £20,000 to make sure we can reach our target of having three ready to roll when COVID restrictions are lifted especially for our most vulnerable Oxfordshire residents many of whom will have struggled badly with social isolation due to lockdown.

The trishaws are amazing, and our hope is that they will soon help us to recruit the many dedicated volunteers needed to fill their saddles. Our hope is to build communities around the trishaws, bringing together local residents with our volunteers along with residents of local carwe homes. and isolated people within the community.

If you have seen our first trishaw around, you'll know that it is a smile producing machine. We've loved seeing the beaming faces as we've been testing it on suggested routes over the past weeks. If you see us out and about, don't forget to wave and say hello!

Have a look at this eye-opening film as to how these trishaw cycles can make a massive difference in the lives of local people. This is how these bikes are being used by our parent charity in Demark. I am sure you'll agree these trishaw cycles will change lives!