Free trishaw rides aim to tackle isolation

Free trishaw rides around a seaside town will help isolated people "get out and about" and "have a natter", a Lancashire couple behind the planned service have said.

Adam and Vicci Blakey are working with charity Cycling Without Age England to raise funds to buy a custom-made trishaw, a tricycle adapted to carry two passengers, to take elderly and less mobile residents on rides around Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.

As a content creator and podcaster, Mr Blakey said he also wanted to use his skills to make videos for social media based on conversations with passengers.

He said: "For the people that want it, I'd love to capture those stories."

He said he was inspired by other trishaw schemes around the country, as well as his own auntie who had become more isolated since moving to a care home.

"Apart from when the family go to visit, she doesn't get out," Mr Blakey said.

"We want to work with local care homes and councils to basically offer this as a service to get people out and about - to enjoy the Blackpool Promenade and a bag of chips or take them to the park for a brew and a natter."

Initially planning to drive the trishaws themselves in their spare time, Mr Blakey said the couple hoped the content created on the rides could help fund an expansion of the service.

"The largest [trishaw programme] in the UK now has 10," he said.

"We would love to be able to grow this into something so that we can give back."

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