Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland are delighted to unveil new research that shows both the positive and mental benefits our Recycle Mobility Programme is having for both children with disabilities and other family members.
Our “Recycle Mobility Programme Impact Report & Evaluation Study 2024” measures the impact that special mobility trikes are having for children with disabilities in Ireland.
Since the launch of this programme in the summer of 2021, the charity with the special support of Minister Anne Rabbitte and The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, The HSE, The Department of Transport along with private corporative and private donations has enabled the charity to deliver over 350 new special mobility trikes to children with disabilities. During this time, the charity has also been able to upcycle 64 preloved trikes handed back from parents and groups who were in receipt of funding towards the cost of their new trike.
This new report which was conducted by world renowned chartered educational psychologist, author and senior lecturer Dr Jolanta Burke from The RCSI found that our Recycle Mobility Programme improves the mental and physical well-being for children with disabilities and immediate family members by up to 87.5%.
Other key findings in this new report shows that our programme gives families with children with disabilities a real opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities together as a family with each mobility trike providing a form of vital exercise and physiotherapy for children with disabilities.
Not only does this take the pressure off physiotherapists workloads but also saves the state money given the many benefits it provides towards the cost of developing and maintaining a child’s own mental and physical well-being.
The Recycle Mobility Programme presents children with mobility issues with equal access to cycling, while providing children with disabilities with a sense of inclusion and enjoyment. The fact that when a child outgrows their trike, they can hand it back to the charity where we pass it onto another child or special school so they can experience the same joys of cycling as it’s predecessor. This helps to extend the lifespan of each trike and stops them going to harmful landfill sites which is bad for the environment. Long term, it also saves money in having to continually purchase new adapted trikes. This fully circular and environmentally cycling programme for children is key to ensuring equal access to cycling for children with mobility issues in Ireland in the future.
Here are a few comments from Dr Jolanta Burke and her research team.
Jolanta Burke, CPsychol (RCSI)
“Research RCSI and TCD conducted, highlights the significant benefits of Variety’s “Recycle Mobility Programme” as it offers children with disabilities the opportunity to engage in activities that were once inaccessible to them. These specially designed bikes allow children to experience the simple joy of cycling, feel the wind in their hair, and actively participate in outdoor play with their siblings. The impact of the bikes extends beyond the child themselves, as families experience increased joy and bonding. Siblings can join in the fun, fostering inclusivity and strengthening relationships, while parents feel a deep sense of pride and happiness seeing their child exercise, smile, and engage in activities they might not have thought possible. The trikes empower children to enjoy a newfound sense of freedom, confidence, and independence, contributing to their physical and emotional wellbeing. This programme enhances the lives of the people it is designed to help.”
Stephen Campbell, MSc (RCSI)
“It was an absolute privilege being a part of the Variety – the Children’s Charity Recycle Mobility Programme. It was incredibly rewarding to be part of a program that has such a direct and tangible impact on people’s lives. So often, research feels purely academic, removed from real-world change, but this experience was different. Knowing that this work contributes to something that genuinely benefits others made it all the more rewarding and fulfilling. A remarkable aspect of this program is its ability to not only transform lives but also champion a sustainable and impactful approach. By providing specially adapted trikes to children with disabilities, the program fosters independence, mobility, and joy, creating a profound ripple effect of positivity for families and communities alike. Its circular economy ethos ensures that these trikes are refurbished and reallocated as children outgrow them, maximizing their utility and significantly reducing waste. This thoughtful and innovative approach extends the benefits to multiple families over time, strengthening community bonds and fostering a spirit of shared support. The charity’s dedication to empowering individuals while prioritizing environmental sustainability highlights the truly extraordinary nature of their work.”
Robert Egan, PhD (Trinity College Dublin)
“The pioneering Recycle Mobility Programme enables access to physical activity, independent mobility, and greater social participation for disabled children who may find standard bicycles poorly adapted to their unique abilities. Through providing bikes and trikes that are adapted specifically for the abilities and needs of the child, the Recycle Mobility Programme enables socially inclusive cycling, with all the physical, mental, and social benefits this can bring. Expanding this scheme and improving the cyclability of local neighbourhoods, school routes, and segregated cycle spaces can help to ensure cycling is available to children of all abilities.”
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr Jolanta Burke, Stephen Campbell from the RCSI and Robert Eagan from Trinity College Dublin for all their hard work, time and efforts in compiling this report. We would also like to thank Minister Anne Rabbitte for championing and supporting this programme. Special thanks also go to Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister Jack Chambers and Minister James Lawless who previously worked with The Department of Transport in helping to support our Recycle Mobility Programme. Finally, we would also like to recognise and thank Bernard O’Regan and Maeve O’Connor along with all at the HSE who continue to play a vital role in helping the charity to deliver this vital programme that continues to deliver a cost effective and sustainable mobility programme for children with disabilities. Thanks to all of your support and help, lots of children with disabilities and their families can now enjoy outdoor activities together as a family while having a positive effect on their mental and physical well-being.
>> View Recycle Mobility Programme Impact Report & Evaluation Study 2024
