More about us
We have about 198 tandem bikes, 47 tag-along bikes, 3 tandem trikes and 10 tag-along trikes all over the UK (in Spring 2022), and are detailed here. The bikes are with Borrowers for the vast majority of the time but looked after by our Volunteers/ Helpers/ Coordinators listed here. They are available for hire for a couple of a months at a time, though some people have them for much longer.
The disabilities and special needs of our borrowers have so far included: Severe Learning Difficulties, Autism, Asperger's, Blindness, Visual Impairment, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Amputation, Hearing Loss, Dyspraxia, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, MS, ME, CRPS, COPD, Hemiplegia, Tuberous Sclerosis, CHARGE & MPS III. Tandems are a fun and safe way to get out and about as friends, a couple, family or group.
Click here for a short video, here for our Cotswold Life article, here for our RNIB Connect Radio article, here for our Radio 4 In Touch article and here for our ITV News article.
The disabilities and special needs of our borrowers have so far included: Severe Learning Difficulties, Autism, Asperger's, Blindness, Visual Impairment, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Amputation, Hearing Loss, Dyspraxia, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, MS, ME, CRPS, COPD, Hemiplegia, Tuberous Sclerosis, CHARGE & MPS III. Tandems are a fun and safe way to get out and about as friends, a couple, family or group.
Click here for a short video, here for our Cotswold Life article, here for our RNIB Connect Radio article, here for our Radio 4 In Touch article and here for our ITV News article.
Our charitable status
Charlotte's Tandems is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and our number is 1148053. Full details can be found here. The charity is run completely by volunteers. Our Trustees can be seen here and on the Charity Commission website. Charlotte, after whom the charity is named and is shown in the photos on our homepage, was elected as Honorary President at the 2015 AGM. Read all about her in the History section below.
The UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award
Kate and Alex were very proud to be awarded the Points of Light Award in June 2019. Here are the certificate and the letter from Number 10. The Right Honourable, Theresa May wrote, “Inspired by Charlotte’s love of cycling, you are bringing the experience of tandems to hundreds of disabled people and those with special needs across the country. Through ‘Charlotte’s Tandems’ you are enabling people to enjoy the many benefits that come from taking bike rides where they live.”. See more about it here.
Royal supporters
St James's Palace have reported that "Their Royal Highnesses ...", The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, ".. were most interested to hear about Charlotte's Tandems and the support you lend to people with special needs. It sounds like a wonderful charity".
TV's Dr Dawn Harper says,
"Charlotte's Tandems is such a wonderful idea. I have a disabled child myself, and know first hand how important it is to be able to get out and about as a family despite disability. This Charity could benefit thousands of families across the whole of the country, so I am thrilled to support Charlotte's Tandems and recommend that you all have a go at tandem riding. It's such great fun and best of all, with Charlotte's Tandems, it's free!"
Our History
Charlotte has severe learning difficulties, severe autism, has erratic challenging behaviour and is non verbal. It is hard to keep her busy and happy but we (Kate and Alex) found that cycling was the best way. When Charlotte grew out of her tag-along bike in 2005 we decided to take the plunge and a bought a tandem, without even trying one out beforehand, as we had nowhere to try one. Fortunately, she loved it from the start and we've ridden many miles, without major problems. We therefore wanted to share our love for tandeming with others, here in Gloucestershire, England. The very kind members of the UK's Tandem Club started to donate some tandems to lend out in April 2010. Other families, couples and friends are now able to try out a tandem for a couple of months for free, to see if they enjoy it too and decide whether to buy one for themselves. We turned it into a charity in April 2011 and then from the summer of 2011 we started to get Regional Helpers. Our current Helpers are shown on this website and we are very grateful for all their help and that from our previous Helpers. We became a Registered Charity in July 2012. Unlike many charities we are not after your money, but click here for some details of our past donors of whom were are grateful for getting us going.
In 2020 we temporarily expanded into the US. We have now (2022) withdrawn from there but the Charlotte's Tandems name and ethos is being continued by a separate organisation there. We are a similar, but different, organisation to Charlotte's Tandems US. Similarly we had expanded into the Republic of Ireland, but withdrew from there in Autumn 2021.
In 2020 we temporarily expanded into the US. We have now (2022) withdrawn from there but the Charlotte's Tandems name and ethos is being continued by a separate organisation there. We are a similar, but different, organisation to Charlotte's Tandems US. Similarly we had expanded into the Republic of Ireland, but withdrew from there in Autumn 2021.
