For the elderly across Scotland

Falkirk. Ministers have agreed to put up the funding to extend the pilot scheme nationwide increase the funding to allow the project to be extended nationally. It will be the first time that the Cycling Without Age concept, which began in Denmark in 2012, has covered an entire country.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said: “It’s easy to see why the video featuring Fraser and his enthusiastic passengers has become a worldwide hit on social media – this is a terrific project.

“I’m delighted to announce that the Scottish Government will now work with Cycling Without Age to ensure older people right across Scotland can experience nature and feel the wind in their hair.

“We’re already providing some financial support for the scheme here in Falkirk and we want to see this great initiative spread nationwide.”

She added that, while there was “a lot of work to do” on the detail of the scheme, the Scottish Government would provide financial support allowing elderly people across the country to benefit from similar projects.

Mr Johnston said the scheme had gone from “strength to strength” since it started in Falkirk, adding that he was “delighted” it was to become a national project.

In the BBC video, the medical student said getting on a trishaw was an ideal way for elderly people stuck at home to get out and about. One of the project’s beneficiaries is 93. 0 Fraser Johnston is ‘delighted’ that the project is growing

Mr Johnston said: “The only time they ever get taken out is with their family or through activities at the home, but it’s normallyfromthehometoacar to a bus to the next location.

“For some of them it’s such a strange thing when you say, ‘Come out on the bike’, because they think they’re going to do the pedalling.

“But when they find out it’s a young or old volunteer taking them out, they jump at the chance.”