Cycling Without Age Stockton Rolls Out Dementia Orientation Training

At Cycling Without Age Stockton-on-Tees, we believe that our trishaw rides are about much more than fresh air and scenery. They are opportunities to connect, to share stories, to spark memories, and to create moments of joy for people who may otherwise feel isolated. For many of our passengers, those moments are made even more meaningful because we understand the unique challenges that come with living with dementia. That is why we are proud to announce the rollout of our Dementia Orientation Training for all of our volunteer pilots – and why we are offering the same training free of charge to other Cycling Without Age (CWA) chapters across the UK.

Why Dementia Awareness Matters for Trishaw Rides

Dementia is not a single disease. It is an umbrella term for over 100 different conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and many more. These conditions affect people in different ways, but they share a common thread – they all involve progressive brain changes that impact memory, thinking, communication, and, in time, basic physical functions. Dementia is life-changing, both for those who live with it and for the families, friends, and carers who support them.

Many of our trishaw passengers are living with dementia. Others are caring for someone who is. A ride with us can be a rare opportunity to feel free, to see familiar streets or favourite landmarks, or simply to enjoy being outside without the stresses of daily life. But making these rides truly accessible and enjoyable means understanding the needs of people with dementia – how they see the world, how they process information, and how they might respond to different situations. That understanding comes through training, not guesswork.

Bringing Professional Dementia Training to CWA

Alongside the role with Cycling Without Age Stockton, Alison delivers dementia training sessions to care homes, voluntary organisations, families, friends, and members of the public. Over the years, she has worked with people at all stages of dementia, as well as with carers and professionals who want to better understand how brain changes affect daily life. This experience has shaped the way she approaches her work – and it’s also given her the tools to help the volunteers feel more confident and capable when supporting our passengers.

Thanks to funding awarded to Young At Heart ULO CIC from the National Lottery Community Fund to develop their dementia training offering, we are now adapting the professional dementia orientation training to fit the needs of CWA pilots. The goal is simple: equip every volunteer with the knowledge and skills to provide rides that are not just safe and enjoyable, but also dementia friendly and dementia aware.

Inside the Dementia Orientation Session

Our dementia orientation is based on the Positive Approach to Care philosophy, which focuses on meeting people where they are, adapting our approach to their needs, and creating moments of connection. During the session, volunteers learn:

• Brain differences in Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
• The “Four Truths” about dementia
• Sensory processing changes
• Communication strategies
• Positive Physical Approach™ techniques
• Engagement through music, movement, and conversation.

The training isn’t just theory – it’s practical. We demonstrate approaches, practise skills, and explore real-life scenarios that volunteers might encounter during a ride. We also look at how to adapt if a passenger is startled or anxious, how to maintain dignity, and how to create positive connections even in brief encounters.

Learning from Our First Session

Our first dementia orientation session was a small one – just our Director, Phil – but it was a valuable starting point. Together we explored the content, tested the activities, and talked through how these skills would work in practice on the trishaw. Phil is now committed to putting the training into action.

Feedback from this pilot session will help refine our online delivery, making it easier for volunteers to join from anywhere. We’ll be improving instructions for interactive exercises, ensuring participants can see each other during activities, and streamlining the process for issuing certificates of completion to volunteer pilots nation wide.

Building Dementia-Friendly Communities, One Ride at a Time

For Cycling Without Age, dementia awareness is not just an optional extra – it’s a key part of delivering the best possible experience for our passengers. A dementia-friendly ride is one where the pilot understands why a passenger might be hesitant to get on the trishaw, recognises when someone needs more time to process instructions, or can adapt the route to pass meaningful places that spark memories.

We know that for some passengers, this might be their first trip out of a care home in months. For others, it might be a cherished weekly routine. In every case, our aim is the same: to make the ride feel safe, welcoming, and tailored to their needs.

Free Training for Other CWA Chapters

We believe this training could benefit the whole Cycling Without Age movement. That’s why we are offering our Dementia Orientation Training free of charge to other CWA chapters. If you are a chapter leader, volunteer, or coordinator, we would love to help you build dementia awareness within your own team.

The training can be delivered online, making it accessible wherever you are based. Sessions last around an hour and include practical demonstrations, discussion, and time for questions. Each participant receives a certificate upon completion and, more importantly, the confidence to make every ride more inclusive.

How to Get Involved

If you are part of a CWA chapter and would like to arrange a dementia orientation session for your volunteers, please get in touch with Alison at training@youngatheartulo.org.uk. She’ll work with you to find a suitable time and format, and can even tailor some of the content to reflect the specific needs of your local community.

Looking Ahead

This dementia orientation is just the first step. In future, we plan to offer more in-depth sessions covering topics such as recognising different types of dementia, and understanding the difference between normal and not-normal ageing. We also want to share practical tools for volunteers from simple memory prompts to tips for adapting routes and conversations to each passenger’s comfort level.

We are excited to see how this training will strengthen our rides, our volunteer team, and our connections with passengers. Every time we take to the road, we have the chance to bring joy to someone’s day and with the right knowledge and approach, we can make that joy last long after the ride is over.

Final Thoughts

Dementia can be isolating. It can change the way people experience the world and how the world responds to them. But with understanding, patience, and compassion, we can help break down those barriers. Our trishaw rides are one way to do that, and our dementia orientation training ensures that we do it well.

By rolling out this training to our own volunteers and offering it to others, we hope to see dementia-friendly rides become the norm across Cycling Without Age. Because when we ride together with awareness, we ride together with kindness.