Cycling without Age National conference 2025

In September we invited leaders and volunteers from chapters across England and Wales to attend a weekend conference in Weymouth to share stories, network and be inspired. Thank you to our partner the Dorset Care Association for sponsoring our event.

We felt the wind in our hair, riding a dozen trishaws through Weymouth

By switching seats on several occasions chapters were able to network and share ideas. Many hadn’t experienced this number of trishaws riding together, which they found inspiring.

Thank you to Rob for this fantastic video footage using a drone and all the local volunteers for diligently planning a safe and engaging ride.

“It was such a wonderful day, so grateful that we were able to be a part of it and bring one of our trishaw’s down. We all had a wonderful time.  Everyone played an incredible role in making it the success it was and getting Ole there was such a bonus. I have fallen deeper in love with the CWA global mission and so proud to play a small part in bringing the magic to Portsmouth & Hayling Island.”

Jenni from Portsmouth

A weekend in Weymouth

The following words are written Fiona Daborn, a volunteer from our Weymouth chapter.

CWA founder Ole Kassow, gives a presention, in the background is a TV screen with trishaws. Ole is animated and focused as he talks.

Our founder Ole Kassow rides as a volunteer on one of the bikes, you can see the Weymouth seafront behind him.

2 people sit in a trishaw smiling, behind them is 4 other red trishaws, volunteers in high vis jackets surround them

Support rider

Danish pastries were brought out to welcome Ole Kassow, the founder of CWA who had travelled from Copenhagen to share his vision and inspiring stories with participants. Still making time to pilot a trishaw once a week since setting up the charity in 2012, Ole described himself as a “Support rider”, like those we see in the Tour de France, his role is to help “the stars” to win the Tour de France. In the same way, Ole wants to make sure chapters in the UK and across the world get the best support in their roles, for having fun and providing quality of life for those who are no longer able to ride their bikes.

Ole’s observations

As a support rider, Ole collects “bright spots” – good ideas, things that work well, that he can then spread to other areas. He was keen to share developments he was observing and themes connecting thriving CWA groups around the world.

  • Ole highlighted lessons on volunteering from Norway where each community has a “Volunteering Centre”, a hub for people who want to participate, which can then be mobilised in times of need. The Norwegians talk of this volunteer force as a “dormant muscle” ready to spring into action when needed.
  • Intergenerational relationships – Ole has observed an expansion in recruitment of “Young Pilots” from colleges and universities bringing more young people into the charity and promoting intergenerational relationships.
  • Hubs – in an increasing number of countries the use of hubs is making a difference by getting more trishaws in one location so that group, rather than solo rides, becomes the norm. Hubs provide social connectedness for the volunteers and work well for supporting younger pilots too.
  • Community Coordinators – often in rural areas or small towns, these are individuals or small groups who are good at building connections between everyone, becoming strong advocates for CWA in their areas.
  • Community for men – Ole shared an observation that CWA was playing an important role in providing a platform for creating community for men, who are often underrepresented in volunteering.

Thank you for so much inspiration and so many memories in one day, a wonderful day and team Weymouth and other contributors for your hard work. Seafront ride was a special treat for me from landlocked Sheffield.

Heike from Sheffield

Mass ride

By this time delegates were ready for some fresh air and a swathe of brightly coloured high-vis waterproofs were pulled on in readiness for a mass ride. 50 pilots and passengers were loaded into trishaws and with a cheerful ringing of bells the peloton was off. Despite a drizzly start, Weymouth provided the perfect setting for a ride along the seafront, picnic lunches in Greenhill Gardens and a final run along the Rodwell Trail with views over Portland Harbour. During the course of the ride everyone had the opportunity to feel the rain as well as the wind in their hair, and by the end of the ride the sun finally broke through.

Sharing stories

Tea and cake was waiting back at the scout hut along with some handmade biscuits complete with the CWA logo.  Refuelled, delegates dived into the next section of the day, a series of stories from CWA chapters across England including Portsmouth, Blackpool, Cheshire and Weymouth covering impact, benefits of setting up as a charity, technology and digital marketing.  The day was supported by colleagues from National CWA who also shared a session on fundraising.  At the end of the day, delegates enjoyed a traditional seaside supper of fish and chips before the conference was officially closed.

The day was a great success and managed to incorporate all of the CWA values:

  • Generosity – thanks to the organisers and local volunteers for giving their time in planning, baking cakes, serving tea and signposting delegates
  • Slowness – we are grateful to all the participants for embracing the journey, considering the other path users and bearing with the weather on the mass ride!
  • Storytelling – thanks to Ole and all our speakers who shared experiences and stories
  • Relationships – we were excited to see new friendships growing across the generations and communities of CWA England
    Without Age – we were proud to make the day accessible and ensure everyone could participate, no matter their age or ability

Thank you to everyone who joined the conference, see you again next year!

An aerial view of several trishaws riding along a leafy forest path

A woman in a bright yellow jacket sits in a red trishaw waving. She is on the move riding through a forest, you can see 3 more trishaws riding behind her.

What an absolutely wonderful day it was! Thank you so much to Des and the Weymouth team for thinking and taking care of just about everything! Getting Ole to join in was a masterstroke I feel like a part of something bigger now. Thank you everyone, it was lovely to meet you all  

Diya from Maidenhead

This event was covered in local media

 

Read the Midweek Herald‘s article ‘Cycling Without Age charity brings joy to Seaton community‘

We were featured in The West Dorset Magazine, page 26 ‘On your bikes for cycling conference‘