Inverness care workers set to benefit from new funding for bikes
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Home carers working in Inverness will be able to make more of their journeys between clients by bike thanks to a new funding injection.
The "Bikes and Trikes for Highland Home Carers" partnership project between Highland Carers and the city’s Cairn Medical Practice as well as several community care trusts has been awarded £8000 by Cycling Scotland to buy new folding and e-bikes.
The groups says these will be used to overcome a number of travel barriers for care workers including getting stuck in slow traffic, struggling to find parking spaces, inadequate public transport or not being able to drive.
As well as helping them get to and from home visits to the benefit of clients it is hoped the new initiative will also better support staff’s physical health and mental wellbeing.
The funding is part of a final £1 million instalment from Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly Employer programme, provided by the Scottish Government.
Nathalie Libera, development officer at Cycling Scotland said: “Bikes and Trikes for Highland Home Carers is a fantastic pilot project, presenting an amazing opportunity for carers who use cars for frequent and familiar journeys to make more of those journeys by bike.
"There’s great scope to expand the model across the country and other professions that involve a high volume of single occupancy car journeys.
"This is a wonderful example of effective partnership work across sectors, and how a few motivated individuals can really get the ball rolling on exciting cycling projects."
Mick Heath from Cairn Medical Practice said: "The ‘Bikes and Trikes for Highland Home Carers’ project has been an absolute delight to lead.
"It's a great example of how partnership projects can really fly when you bring together a team of able and committed members.
"I'm confident that we'll prove that e-bikes for home care professionals will be a huge game changer. Everyone will win - staff, managers and service users."
