Canal Encounters cycle week celebrates new Cycling Without Age Scotland chapter

Canal Encounters cycle week celebrates new Cycling Without Age Scotland chapter.
 

Cycling Without Age Scotland celebrates the launch of its new Helix Chapter as part of Canal Encounters cycle week (16-22 August).

Two new trishaws funded by Communities Along The Carron Association and Falkirk Common Good Fund, will be operated by this new Chapter, the 53rd Cycling Without Age Scotland Chapter (branch) in the country. There are already five active Chapters serving the communities in Falkirk and the surrounding area.

Christine Bell, Chief Executive Officer, of Cycling Without Age Scotland: 

“We are thrilled that a new Cycling Without Age Scotland Chapter is going to be operating at one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, serving both local communities and visitors from around the world. What makes it especially exciting is that this is the first Chapter in our “Trishaws in Iconic Places” campaign which we announced at our last parliamentary reception.”

Based at The Helix, home of The Kelpies, the new trishaws have been affectionately named after the horses that inspired The Kelpies, Duke and Baron.

"The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel are two of the most iconic assets on Scotland’s canals and we’re committed to ensuring they are accessible for everyone to enjoy.

“As safe green active travel routes, we are delighted to welcome Cycling Without Age Scotland trishaws to our towpaths as it has long been an ambition to have trishaws based on the canal network permanently. - Scottish Canals' Chief Operating Officer, Richard Millar

“As safe green active travel routes, we are delighted to welcome Cycling Without Age Scotland trishaws to our towpaths as it has long been an ambition to have trishaws based on the canal network permanently.

“As we seek to continually add new experiences, such as Canal Encounters and The Wheel 2 Kelpies selfie trail, we are delighted to work with Cycling Without Age Scotland to realise the benefits of making sure that Scotland’s canals can be enjoyed by everyone for leisure and recreation purposes.”

To mark the launch a parade of trishaws, including Duke and Baron, and twenty passengers, will leave The Kelpies and follow the four mile, traffic free route, along the towpath to The Falkirk Wheel taking in the Canal Encounters Activity Trail as they go.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn:

“Falkirk Council has been involved in Cycling Without Age Scotland since it was launched here in Falkirk in 2017 by Communities Along the Carron Association.

“We are delighted now to see this hugely successful project being rolled out, with support from the Scottish Government, across Scotland, the only country in the worldwide Cycling Without Age movement to have received its government’s pledged support for a country-wide rollout. The Kelpies in Helix Park are iconic in our Council area and, having two trishaws named after them and operating in the park, will not only enable more of our local residents to access the site but will be of benefit to our visitors too and enhance our commitment to providing Accessible Tourism in the heart of Falkirk”.

Canal Encounters is a self-led walking, cycling, paddling, boating or wheeling trail, running along the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canals until Sunday 29th August. Connecting The Helix, Home of The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel, the vibrant activity trail features interactive art installations, audio guides, augmented reality hot spots and much more as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21 celebrations.

Canal Encounters is supported by EventScotland through the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21 and Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Notes to editors:

For further information, please contact:

Rod Natkiel at Cycling Without Age Scotland on 07968 130 936 or email rod@cyclingwithoutagescotland.org

Nicola Sturgeon at Scottish Canals on 07767383557 or email Nicola.Sturgeon@scottishcanals.co.uk

Amanda Mcphee at Falkirk Community Trust on 01324 590728 or email Amanda.McPhee@falkirkcommunitytrust.org

For more information on the event please visit https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/ycw2020/canal-encounters-2021-2/

About Cycling Without Age Scotland

Cycling Without Age Scotland’s core aim is always the same: to enhance and enrich lives by giving elderly and disabled people access to the beautiful outdoors through our pioneering trishaw rides, access which is denied to so many people simply because of age or limited mobility. We also maintain the highest and robust standards of safety in all our operations, fully complying with the requirements of the Scottish Care Inspectorate, which helps develop even further what is already a highly respected brand. This allows all who join us or enjoy our services to feel and be an integral part of a highly respected Scotland-wide movement.

https://cyclingwithoutage.scot/

About Falkirk Community Trust

Falkirk Community Trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status and was established by Falkirk Council. On 1 July 2011 the company assumed responsibility for the management and operation of a range of community facing sport, recreation, arts, heritage and library services.

As a not-for-profit organisation we strive to support community aspirations, deliver inspiring services and ensure that the experiences we offer provide equality of opportunity and access for all.

We deliver:

• Arts: FTH Theatre, Hippodrome, town halls, film, theatre and exhibition programmes, box office services, arts development and creative learning
• Heritage: Callendar House, Kinneil Museum, heritage exhibitions, heritage learning, archaeology, archives and local history services
• Libraries: public libraries, information, reference and reader development services and Homebound services
• Fitness: Gyms, Les Mills fitness classes, Step Forth, Active Forth, healthy lifestyle programmes, Let’s Make Falkirk More Active
• Sport: sports centres, ski slope, sports pitches, sports events, sports development classes and courses, Active Schools programme
• Parks: Callendar Park, Kinneil Estate, Muiravonside Country Park and Farm, parks and community events
• Outdoors: Grangemouth golf course, outdoor activities and learning programmes, countryside ranger services.

Falkirk Community Trust gratefully acknowledges the support and funding from Falkirk Council.

About Great Place Falkirk Great Place Falkirk (Landscape, Industry, and Work) is a project of the Great Place Scheme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, using heritage to create a better place for people to live and visit. The project partners are Falkirk Community Trust, Falkirk Council, Scottish Canals and Green Action Trust.

To discover more about the rich heritage of our area, visit ourstoriesfalkirk.com or follow us on social media @GreatPlaceFK.

About Scottish Canals

New microsite https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/ycw2020/ was created by Scottish Canals in celebration of Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21. The site contains information on how to enjoy each of Scotland’s canals by boat, bike or boot.

Scottish Canals is responsible to the Scottish Government for the management and development of the Union, Monkland, Forth & Clyde, Crinan and Caledonian Canals. As well as the waterways themselves, Scottish Canals care for 251 bridges, 212 buildings, 256 locks, The Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies and 19 water supply reservoirs in locations across Scotland. The reservoirs cover an area equivalent to 7,494 football pitches and supply the canals with the 332 million litres of water which flow through them each day.

The Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals in the Lowlands, the Crinan Canal in Argyll and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands together extend over 137 miles from coast to coast, across country and into the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Built two hundred years ago to fire the Industrial Revolution, Scotland’s canals are now recognised as Scheduled Monuments and attract 22million visits per year.

For more information, visit www.scottishcanals.co.uk or follow @ScottishCanals on Twitter

About YCW20/21

Scotland’s Coasts and Waters will be showcased throughout 2020 and 2021 and celebrated with a programme of activity designed to support the nation’s tourism and events sectors.

Following input and feedback from the tourism and events industry, there was strong support and a commitment from Scottish Government to rollover the celebratory year into 2021. Work is currently ongoing to rescope and reshape the supported events programme.

The year, led by VisitScotland will sustain and build upon the momentum of Scotland’s preceding Themed Years to spotlight, celebrate and promote opportunities to experience and enjoy Scotland’s unrivalled Coasts and Waters, encouraging responsible engagement and participation from the people of Scotland and our visitors.

A programme of activities, events and ideas will shine a spotlight on the impact our waters have had on Scotland, from the formation of beautiful natural features to the creation of our national drink – whisky. Join the conversation using #YCW2021

Following an industry consultation, the Themed Years are planned to take place every second year to enable more time for planning and collaboration. Given the impact of COVID-19 an exception will be made in 2021 with the 2020 year rolling forward. 2022 will celebrate the Year of Stories.