Vroom Vroom! Unique break for carer on motorbike around Shetland Islands
Our Respitality journey takes us to Shetland, who started delivering Respitality locally in 2017. They share with us a unique break in the shape of a trip around the island on a motorbike.
When Linda signed up to access a Respitality break via Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS), she did not envisage a ride on the back of a motorbike! This is what happened when Steve Henry of Shetland Motorbike Training donated a break.
Steve took Linda out on his Honda Gold Wing on a lovely sunny April day to Hillswick, travelling back through Voe & Aith. They stopped for lunch at Bonhoga at Weisdale with a quick detour to Burra before heading back.
Linda, who cares for her husband Colin who is living with dementia said:
“I just had the most exhilarating, enjoyable afternoon. The ride north was brilliant with the sun shining and lots of lovely scenery & wildlife. It was great being able to enjoy it all as I’m usually driving! Looking forward to something new or different helps me through the bleak times. I can focus on that instead of thinking about what I have to cope with day after day. I’m grateful for today and will think about it for a long time to come. I can’t thank Steve enough and VAS for organising it all.”
Steve Henry of Shetland Motorbike Training said: ‘Respitality is a way of giving something back to the community. We offer Self-Catering Accommodation but thought that for those who are just looking for a couple hours break, a bike run would be a great experience. My mother had dementia, we could see first-hand, for my father, how beneficial a few hours space was to him.”
If you would like to know more about the business who kindly donated this unique break, visit their website https://www.shetlandmotorbiketraining.com/ For more information on the work of Voluntary Action Shetland, please visit their website https://www.shetlandcarers.org/