Rickshaws for Upper Franconia

As part of its commitment, Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung pursues the goal of strengthening social participation throughout Upper Franconia. In addition to supporting social projects, the foundation also repeatedly places its own initiatives. This is also the case with the current funding call "Rickshaws for Upper Franconia", which was launched in support of Radeln ohne Alter Deutschland e.V.. The idea: socially committed rickshaw drivers undertake excursions into the surrounding area together with people with limited mobility, thereby offering them a bit more quality of life. In order to benefit from the concept behind "Rickshaws for Upper Franconia", social and non-profit organisations have until 31 August 2021 to apply to Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung for one of a maximum of 13 supported rickshaw locations in Upper Franconia.

Photo: Michael Wagner Director of the Katharina von Bora Senior Citizens' Centre with resident Maria Körber

"Rickshaws for Upper Franconia" offer mobility-impaired people a new quality of life

The exemplary use of the special vehicles at the Katharina von Bora Senior Citizens' Centre with the "Litzendorf Senior Citizens' Rickshaw" and at the Seehof-Blick Senior Citizens' Centre with the "Memmelsdorf Senior Citizens' Rickshaw" already proves that a rickshaw service brings real added value. The latter project even took first place in the mobility heroes category in the 2019 Heroes of Home Upper Franconia competition round. Today, the projects of the Diakonie Bamberg-Forchheim e.V. serve as a source of ideas for the current funding call of Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung. In support of Radeln ohne Alter Deutschland e.V., the foundation's "Rickshaws for Upper Franconia" initiative calls on non-profit and social organisations to apply for one of a maximum of 13 funded rickshaw locations in Upper Franconia. The concept behind "Rickshaws for Upper Franconia" is very simple: socially committed people go on excursions in the surrounding area together with people with limited mobility. In addition to the helpers, rickshaw drivers and passengers needed to organise the trip, a rickshaw is of course needed. As simple as the idea sounds, the social impact is huge! People with limited mobility are given the opportunity to interact with other people and the environment and experience themselves as part of society again - social and societal participation is promoted. As a result, they gain a bit more quality of life. The rickshaw excursions with the rickshaw drivers create shared moments of happiness and memories, enable the exchange of life stories and give the passengers the feeling that they can actively shape their everyday lives. Last but not least, this also has an effect on improved health and well-being. The rickshaw tours counteract loneliness and the feeling of being excluded.

Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung makes rickshaw sites ready for take-off

The Foundation's goal is to spread the concept of rickshaws throughout Upper Franconia and thus to strengthen social and societal participation throughout Upper Franconia. For this reason, the Foundation is looking for an organisation in each of the 13 Upper Franconian districts and independent cities that would like to give people with limited mobility a better quality of life with their own rickshaw. The rickshaw locations selected after a thorough application process are not only provided with their own rickshaw by the foundation, they also receive important support: this includes, for example, information on the necessary insurance cover, qualification of the volunteers including the provision of training documents, workshops for the acquisition of volunteers, support in the development of a usage and hygiene concept as well as access to the network "Rickshaws for Upper Franconia", a platform for the exchange of experiences. The application management and the implementation measures are supported by Radeln ohne Alter Deutschland e.V. The coordination officers for civic engagement (KoBes) or the engagement officers of the respective region also provide support. They help to publicise the volunteer positions as pilots of the rickshaws.

Application period for social and non-profit organisations starts now

One of the requirements for the applying organisations is to ensure that they can name a permanent contact person and that they are prepared to implement the project in the long term. Furthermore, participation in the workshops is desired, in which the concepts for financing the running costs, the use and the acquisition of drivers, which are obligatory within the framework of the funding partnership, will be developed together with the organisations. During the application period from 20 July to 31 August 2021, social and non-profit organisations from the Upper Franconia region that want to give people with limited mobility (mobility) freedom, joy of life and quality of life can apply. These include, for example, senior citizens' and nursing homes, institutions for the disabled, welfare organisations, church communities and associations as well as cities, municipalities and local authorities. Interest groups or private individuals who would like to operate a rickshaw and are willing to found a new association for this purpose or to dock onto existing associations or organisations can also apply. After the selection phase from 1 to 15 September 2021, the selected applicants will be informed and the start of the respective funding partnership will be announced. In the context of a subsequent kick-off event for all Upper Franconian rickshaw locations for networking, the further procedure will also be clarified before the continuation and development of the locations begins in October 2021.