Access All Areas Winter 2020

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Kew Gardens with Helen Dolphin 2020 Competition WINTER ISSUE 2019/20

Expanding Alicia's Horizons

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EN E U Q G DANCIN ANFORTH ST E T A K Y B 1

ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE HIRE Travel in your wheelchair

The UK’s leading supplier of accessible vehicles Allied Mobility offers a wide variety of wheelchair accessible and specially adapted vehicles for short and long-term hire.

Steering wheel aids 6-way powered seat

Driving for Perfection

Tel: 0800 587 9640 www.alliedmobility.com

WELCOME We’re kicking off 2020 in style with the latest edition of Access All Areas.

We’re so excited to launch our new competition to find FOUR deserving disability charities who we’ll be donating a massive £3,000 to each! Allied Mobility resident blogger, Kate Stanforth, tells us about her experience as a disabled dance teacher.

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Our special reporter, Helen Dolphin, visits Kew Gardens and gives us the accessibility lowdown.

We also catch up with two mother-daughter duos Katie and Alicia Mole and Josie and Natasha Senior.

Happy reading!

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News Round-up........................................ 4

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New Adventures for Natasha..................... 6 Charity Focus: Riding for the Disabled....... 9

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What to Expect....................................... 10 Kate’s Corner.......................................... 13 2020 Competition Launch....................... 16 Expanding Alicia's Horizons..................... 18 A Look at Kew Gardens........................... 21 Illuminating Review.................................. 24 Win £1,000 with Allied Mobility............... 26 (Un)-Welcome Inn.................................... 27 It's Everyone's Journey............................ 28 Homestay™ with Allied Mobility.............. 29

To unsubscribe, please email info@alliedmobility.com or call 0800 587 9640

Sports Update........................................ 30 0800 587 9640

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News Round Up\\\ On Your Skates

Paralympian Libby Clegg, who has Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, is the latest celebrity contestant to sign up to ITV series Dancing on Ice. Libby, who is the first blind skater on the show, said that along with professional partner, Mark Hanretty, the duo use “touch and verbal communication” on the rink.

Although the celebrities have set themselves a fair challenge, Libby knows her appearance on the show can also go a long way to inspiring others to face their fears. She said: “I’d love for people with disabilities, or just in general, to come out of their comfort zone, set yourself a little goal and just do it.”

FIGHT OR FLIGHT Major consumer group, Which?, who for over 60 years has been “asking probing questions of businesses” have turned their attention to the aviation industry.

The independent group found that 25% of 363 disabled passengers quizzed who had used special assistance at an airport were unhappy with the support provided. Furthermore, 46% of travellers with reduced mobility felt flying was not an option for them due to the stress it caused when airport assistance was not booked or was insufficient when provided.

Travel editor for Which?, Rory Borland, said: “Not one single person should have to suffer the indignities and pain we heard about in the course of this investigation. It seems these experiences

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of inadequate airport accessibility services are all too common, so it’s unsurprising that thousands of disabled travellers feel unable to fly.”

LONDON TRAVEL PLEDGE London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has vowed to provide free travel across London for those travelling with a disabled passenger.

Khan said: “My job is to stand up for all Londoners. I want to ensure everyone in our city can access our fantastic transport network, and that travel in the capital is inclusive and affordable.”

If his bid to lead for a second successive year is successful, the current mayor plans to ensure disability groups are consulted so the scheme can reach its full potential.

Alan Benson, from Transport for All, said: “The rights of disabled people are rarely put front and centre by policymakers, so this is a welcome change. The provision of a companion pass is an access requirement, in the same way as a lift is; without it, many disabled people simply cannot travel as they can’t travel alone.”

research funds available. She laments: “It’s shameful that in 2020 so little national research funding goes to eye research, especially when science offers so many possibilities to transform lives and there are breakthroughs happening every day.”

Head ophthalmologist and Chair of the Grant Application Panel at Fight

for Sight, Chris Hammond, argues development must continue. He stresses: “We know that serious sight loss doesn’t discriminate - it can affect anyone at any time and it is on the increase. We are so close to outcomes that were not possible a decade ago, yet so much more needs to be done to develop new universal treatments.”

Research charity Fight for Sight has teamed up with leading ophthalmologists to tackle the funding issues surrounding understanding sight loss. The charity has reported that only 1% of UK grant funding has been attributed to eye research, despite evidence that 20% of the UK population will experience some sort of sight deterioration in their lifetime.

Dr Rubina Ahmed, Head of Research at Fight for Sight, condemned the

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New Adventures for Natasha Josie Senior, from Rotherham, and her family have recently returned from a wellearned getaway to their caravan on the east coast of England.

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Josie tells us trips like this require plenty of planning and can be a stressful experience. However, this holiday got off to a relaxing start thanks to their new ‘lifeline’ – their recently delivered accessible car; the Volkswagen Vista™ from Allied Mobility.

with multiple complex health issues and uses a wheelchair full time.

The Trouble with Travelling

Help at Hand

The Vista™ is the family’s first wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) and according to Josie, it’s changed the family’s lives immeasurably. Josie is mum to 26-year old Natasha who lives

Josie was flicking through mobility magazine, Lifestyle when she discovered Allied Mobility’s range of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

As Josie is Natasha’s full-time carer,

Josie explains: “If we wanted to go anywhere with Natasha, it was always such a big effort. We’d have to lift her into the car and then spend time struggling to dismantle her large, heavy wheelchair.”

making sure all her requirements were taken into consideration was paramount. Josie called our mobility advisors and was then put in touch with her local Allied Mobility consultant, Jemma, who explained the features and benefits of each vehicle.

Josie enthuses: “It was fantastic to have our own personal consultant and such a relief to know that Jemma was available whenever we needed her.”

Deciding on the Right WAV Josie chose the Volkswagen Vista™ for a home demonstration for her and the family and they were instantly smitten. Thanks to its spacious interior, Natasha has room to travel comfortably in her wheelchair alongside the rest of the family.

Of the Vista™, Josie says: “It’s a joy to drive. Natasha is so much happier travelling on long journeys now she

can stay comfortable and secure in her wheelchair.”

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It’s a joy to drive. Natasha is so much happier travelling on long journeys now she can stay comfortable and secure in her wheelchair.

Mobility to family members because it’s completely changed our lives!”

New Vistas to Explore For Josie, the family’s new accessible vehicle is much more than a vehicle, it’s changed their lives.

Josie concludes: “Thanks to Allied Mobility, we’ve got what everyone wants – a sense of normality. Now we can get in the car and go wherever we like, just like any other family.

We’ve already recommended Allied

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Find out more: 0800 587 9640 * info@alliedmobility.com 8 www.alliedmobility.com/ vista

Book A free home demonstration today!

Volkswagen Vista™ is available exclusively from Allied Mobility to buy, rent or via the Motability Scheme.

0800 587 9640

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0800 587 9640

www.alliedmobility.com

Discover the benefits of Allied Aftercare™ alliedmobility.com/aftercare

MAXIMISE YOUR

INDEPENDENCE All of our vehicle s are certifie d for heavier wheelchair s.

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Roomy & comfortable

>> Lightweight EasyFold™ ramp >> Personalised seating layouts >> Bluetooth® >> Privacy glass >> Front & rear air conditioning >> AppLink >> Easy-use electric winch >> Parking sensors

* Advance payments correct at time of going to press.

Images for illustrative purpose only.

UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is an equestrian charity for riders and carriage drivers.

With 500 centres set up all over the UK, the charity helps over 25,000 disabled children and adults in a variety of ways.

Making a Difference 18,000 volunteers and qualified coaches across the centres help members with a range of physical and learning difficulties to improve their fitness, skills and development.

technical ability, the success that he’s made at competition. But more than that is the progress he has made in himself – coming to terms with his condition and what he can do.”

Darren agrees and credits the club for his resilience and being the “light at the end of the tunnel”. Since joining the club, Darren, who uses a wheelchair, has improved his balance and core strength so much that he’s now an independent rider.

He said: “Whatever’s thrown at me I can overcome it if I just try”.

Riding Strong

Darren Ashton, who has Friedreichs Ataxia, is one rider who has benefited from the dedicated coaches and volunteers at the RDA. He even claimed the coveted title of ‘Rider of the Year’.

The charity has just celebrated its 50th anniversary and continues to grow from strength to strength. Alongside meeting the momentous milestone, the RDA also opened its first National Training Centre in Warwickshire. The brandnew state of the art training centre will allow the RDA to continue to focus on “bringing the therapy, achievement and fun of horses to as many people as we can.”

His RDA coach, Kady Chatman, explains: “Darren embodies everything that RDA stands for. The progress he has made in his riding ability and

President of the RDA, Princess Anne, who cut the red ribbon on the opening day of the centre said: “The National Training Centre will ensure we can

Rising Star

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RDA could see my potential as a young athlete and supported me every step of the way to the Paralympics. maintain our high standards and develop our training programmes to ensure the best possible experience for RDA’s riders and carriage drivers long into the future.”

Homegrown Talent Equestrian and Paralympian, Sophie Christiansen, CBE, has also given her support to the new centre.

With eight gold medals to her name, Sophie credits the RDA as a big part of her success. Sophie explains: “RDA could see my potential as a young athlete and supported me every step of the way to the Paralympics.”

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Why not check out the RDA magazine? It’s full of news from their groups all across the UK:

www.rda.org.uk/ rda-magazine

www.alliedmobility.com

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What to expect from So, you’ve just taken delivery of your new Motability vehicle.

What can you expect from Allied Mobility and Allied Autocare?

1. Familiarisation Check In around four weeks, your mobility consultant, who you’ve already met, will pop back round to visit you at home.

They’ll make sure you’re comfortable and confident using all the accessible features of your new vehicle.

2. Annual Safety Check Each year after your delivery, we’ll be back in touch to arrange an annual safety check of the accessible features of your vehicle.

This includes the wheelchair ramp and restraints. If you have an electric winch, we’ll check this too.

We’re on hand at any point throughout your Motability contract.

If you feel your vehicle isn’t quite right, just give us a call.

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your Motability Contract TM

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ALLIED AUTOCARE

ALLIED AUTOCARE

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3. Vehicle Service Your vehicle will be serviced every one or two years, depending on your manufacturer’s specification.

We’ll do this at the same time as your annual safety check as we have a special fleet of Peugeot and Ford mobile service vans. This means we can complete your service at your home.

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ALLIED AUTOCARE

For other makes of car, we can help you book your vehicle into a local garage.

4. MOT Once you’ve had your vehicle for three years, we’ll call you and arrange for your car to visit your local MOT centre.

An MOT provides a thorough check of your vehicle including tests on things like the steering, brakes and exhaust.

We're here to help 0800 916 3019 www.alliedmobility.com

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Car Servicing Where You Are Vehicle maintenance expertise at your door

UK wide HomeStay™

We’ll come to your door, so you can simply stay at home!

WorkBase™

If you take your car to work, we’ll meet you there!

New from Allied Autocare™, our innovative mobile servicing means you can now have your Motability Scheme car serviced where and when suits you best.

Manufacturer-approved service, warranty & repair* Full diagnostic testing Keep your vehicle maintenance record up to date Warranty repairs & recalls included Additional safety checks for accessible vehicles & adaptations *Applies to all Ford and Peugeot vehicles.

Simply call today to arrange your annual Motability Scheme service.

0800 916 3072

info@alliedautocare.co.uk

www.alliedautocare.co.uk/mobile

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ALLIED AUTOCARE

ALLIE

Dancing Queen

By Kate Stanforth

I started ballet lessons at the age of two and quickly fell in love with the sport.

By eight I decided to delve into the world of pre-professional training which involved up to seven hours of dancing on a daily basis. My path was headed towards that of a professional dancer so you can imagine my heartache when aged 14, it was all taken away.

I spent the first few years of my chronic conditions extremely unwell, often bed bound and unable to walk. It wasn’t until 2014, eight years into my health ‘journey’, where I was finally able to bring dance back into my life. A local dance studio was opening and kindly offered to take me on as a student teacher.

Difficult Adjustment I’ll be totally honest, it was incredibly hard. I had to bring my wheelchair in if I couldn’t get parked directly at the door entrance and I spent the majority of the class sitting down. I struggled with teaching the younger children as they moved a lot faster than I could. I was often in bed for the whole week recovering from an hour lesson. But, I loved it! After nearly a year’s hard work I sat my teaching exam, with allowances for my health, and passed with 97%.

Unfortunately, I had a relapse and had to make the incredibly hard decision to part ways with the dancing school as I couldn’t commit to the required hours due to my health. Instead, I started teaching for a shorter amount of time closer to home and since then I’ve been working with local schools on their ballet syllabus.

Kate's Corner Changing the Industry It’s incredibly hard to get your ‘foot in the door’ as a disabled teacher so I feel lucky that I can still do what I love. I adapt the way I teach by instructing more vocally and teaching from my chair.

I also recently started dancing for myself, albeit very little, after being scouted by ‘The Greatest Dancer’, a dance talent competition.

Strictly Accessible I want the dance industry to be accessible for all, whether its teaching, choreography or physically dancing.

So, if you’re reading this and are an ex-dancer, or have no experience at all, don’t be scared. Pick up those dancing shoes and whether you do one arm movement in bed or a pirouette in a wheelchair, you're still a dancer. Don’t give up the dream.

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Follow Kate's journey:

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0800 587 9640 www.alliedmobility.com

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UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640

2020

Facebook Competition We’ll be running four seasonal Facebook competitions throughout the year, giving FOUR disability charities the chance to win £3,000!

Winter Wonderland You can help a deserving disabled charity kick off the year in style by nominating them for the winter award.

It’s your chance to make a difference to a UK charity who dedicates their time and expertise to helping disabled people. To nominate your chosen disabled charity, head over to our Facebook page and tell us:

Who they are What they do What they mean to you Entries to be made via Facebook @alliedmobility.

The winter winner will be announced on 21st March.

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*Terms and conditions apply.

0800 587 9640

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Expanding Alicia's Horizons Katie Mole and her daughter Alicia, from Worcester, recently took delivery of their brand-new wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) from Allied Mobility.

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The family decided on the Peugeot Rifter Horizon™ and they’re already putting it to good use. From days out at the seaside to picking up essentials at the shops, the list goes on.

Doctor’s Orders!

Alicia was born prematurely and lives with Hydrocephalus Epilepsy and a visual impairment. Almost seven years ago, Alicia’s doctor recommended Allied Mobility and mum Katie got in touch to find out more.

Charitable Grants Katie called the mobility team who told her about the possibility of receiving

a charitable grant from Motability as she was unable to find a vehicle to suit Alicia’s needs within their budget.

Katie explains: “When I called, everyone I spoke to was so friendly and the process was so easy. I didn’t even know that charitable grants were available to help with funding until an advisor from Allied told me!”

Time for an Upgrade When it was time to change their current WAV, the Volkswagen Vista™, Katie and Alicia knew they wanted to come back to Allied Mobility. After chatting with their local mobility consultant, Rob, they requested a

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Life is great knowing we can go out as a family together. It’s brilliant to be able to take Alicia to some of her favourite places and travel in comfort.

free home demonstration of the new Peugeot Rifter Horizon™.

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If you’d like more information on charitable grants from Motability, head over their website: www.motability.org.uk/grants/

Easy to Use, Comfortable to Drive Since taking delivery of their new mobility car, Katie, Alicia and the family have taken every opportunity to get out and about.

Brand new features including the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® 8" colour touchscreen, with in-built entertainment system and an electric parking brake mean the family can travel in style to whichever adventure they’re heading to.

Katie enthuses: “Life is great knowing we can go out as a family together. It’s brilliant to be able to take Alicia to some of her favourite places and travel in comfort.”

Book A free home demonstration today!

Peugeot Horizon™ is available exclusively from Allied Mobility to buy, rent or via the Motability Scheme. www.alliedmobility.com

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Mobility Care Specialists

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Accessibility Review With Helen Dolphin Allied Mobility’s special reporter, Helen Dolphin, MBE, takes a trip to the beautiful Kew Gardens.

0800 587 9640

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Helen reviews one of the most popular World Heritage sites the UK has to offer, the Royal Botantic Kew Gardens. Check out her review.

Kew Gardens is home to the largest and most diverse collection of living plants and fungi in the world.

I opted to drive from Norwich to southwest London where the gardens are situated as this was the easiest way.

However Richmond Station, which has step-free access, isn’t too far away.

I parked in the Ferry Lane car park next to the Brentford Gate entrance – there are plenty of disabled bays and Blue Badge holders park for free.

Mobility Scooters I tried to book the free mobility scooter from Kew but unfortunately they were already taken.

Scooters can’t be used in the glasshouses or galleries, although there’s a manual wheelchair kept at these locations to transfer into. As I was unable to borrow a scooter, I used my manual wheelchair. Pushing wasn’t too bad as the paths were tarmac and lovely and smooth. There’s also a Kew Explorer Land train you can board and a wheelchair user can sit at the rear.

Getting to Know Kew Kew Gardens is absolutely huge so I focussed on a few attractions. My first stop was the Children’s Garden where kids can explore and learn all about plants. There are also a lot of water activities for children to play in, as well as playground equipment and a 4m high canopy walk wrapped around a 200-year-old oak tree. You do need to book tickets in advance to get into this garden (at no extra cost).

I then headed to Palm House, home to rainforest trees and plants. The air in this greenhouse is very humid so I couldn’t stay for long. Many plants in this collection are endangered and some are even extinct.

One of Kew’s biggest attractions is the Temperate House which is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse and a Grade I listed building. This glasshouse is home to some of the world’s rarest and most threatened plant species from the world’s temperate zones. The glasshouse is accessible to enter but I couldn’t get up on the balcony as this is only accessed via a spiral staircase.

The final attraction I visited was the Treetop Walkway. Towering 18 metres above the ground, it’s a chance to get

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To pre-book a guided tour email discovery@kew.org or call 020 8332 5643

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closer to Kew’s trees. There’s a lift for wheelchair users to take them to the top which I was really excited about. However, I was left disappointed when I realised the lift was broken. I would recommend checking this before you go.

Taking a Break There are plenty of places to buy food and drink around Kew, but they’re quite pricey.

You can however bring your own picnic.

Accessible toilets are within easy reach of the main attractions, along with a Changing Places toilet near the Brentford Gate entrance.

Helen's ratings

Accessible Parking Attraction Accessibility Attraction Interest Accessible Toilets Value for Money

Accessible Tours Kew offers several accessibility tours and walks. There’s a British Sign Language walking tour, sensory guided walking tour for visitors with sight loss and health walks for visitors living with dementia.

Overall Kew is a lovely place to visit.

It’s a very accessible and lots of thought has been put into achieving this.

Key: Great

Good

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Poor

www.alliedmobility.com

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Illuminating Review for Allied Mobility Hire There was music, fun and festivities as Glasgow-based disability support charity, Community Lifestyles prepared to set off for their annual trip to visit the bright lights of Blackpool.

The group enlisted Allied Mobility’s help in getting the show on the road by renting a trio of roomy FlexiLite™ wheelchair accessible minibuses.

We caught up with support manager, Yvonne Anderson to find out what it is about Allied Mobility that keeps them coming back.

Take Your Pick Along with supporting people with disabilities on a day to day basis, Community Lifestyles also host regular breaks away for their service users and carers. With no accessible vehicles of their own, they turn to Allied Mobility.

Having investigated a number of other rental providers, Allied Mobility’s wide variety of accessible vehicles, combined with top class service at competitive prices was music to the ears of the budget-conscious charity.

Yvonne explains: “We always need accessible vehicles for people who have restricted mobility when we arrange our trips away. Securing a hire company at a low cost is essential as it saves a lot of money and is much more convenient than having to travel by bus or train.”

A Company to Rely On Since first getting in touch three years ago, the staff at Community Lifestyles have become familiar faces to Allied 24

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Mobility. From days out in the local area to longer trips away, our hire team is ready to help whenever they’re needed. For Yvonne, having a specialist company she knows she can rely on is essential to making the company’s trips run smoothly.

Yvonne says: “I cannot praise the hire team enough, they have bent over backwards to provide us with what we need, sometimes at very short notice! They’re always so very helpful, extremely patient and understanding of our needs.”

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If you’d like more information on hiring from Allied Mobility head to our website www.alliedmobility.com/hire

0800 587 9640

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Allied Mobility is delighted to announce the return of our £1,000 Freedom Voucher competition.

With Allied Mobility Last year, Allied Mobility was delighted to crown Barbara Glew and her partner Mike the lucky winners of Allied Mobility’s Freedom Voucher competition.

In It to Win It At the end of 2019, we gave Mike the call to share the exciting news that he and Barbara were the winners.

To say they were surprised was an understatement. Mike even had to call the team at Allied Mobility back to check it wasn’t all a joke!

Barbara laughs: “When we first heard about the win we wondered if it was a hoax call! We could hardly believe our luck.”

Tanks for our Prize!

Barbara and Mike have been customers of Allied Mobility for many years. The couple attended Allied Mobility’s South West Mobility Day at Bovington Tank Museum back in May 2019. They popped along to the event

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to try out the brand-new Peugeot Rifter Horizon™.

Barbara and Mike entered the competition on a whim and thought no more about it until the phone rang and Allied Mobility was on the line.

Barbara explains: “We entered the prize draw when we were there and didn’t expect to win!”

Plans for the prize With five grandchildren living next door, they’re bound to get some suggestions on how to best spend the winnings.

According to Barbara, not only will the prize be used for the whole family, but the couple will make sure they take a well-deserved break.

Sp r in g 17 Matthew and Sharon Furnival, Staffordshirees

on our fac “We had massive smiles n.” wo d ’ we say to after the call Plans for the prize what he “Matthew finally decided !” bed w ne a wants to buy…

Why not give it a go?

Head over to our website or catch us at over 30 events across the UK throughout the year. www.alliedmobility.com/free-prize-draw/

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ain, Patricia & Michael Sw Nottinghamshire

shock. When you “It really was quite a usually with the enter competitions it’s e else will win.” expectation that someon Plans for the prize ney with family “We plan to share the mo the possibility of a and we’re looking into holiday.”

(Un)-Welcome Inn Ordinarily, when booking a stay away, you’d expect your hotel room to be convenient and comfortable.

You won’t find either of these things here, though. You’re in the ‘Welcome Inn’, a hotel room within the Art B&B in Blackpool.

It is, in fact, an interactive art installation designed by Christopher Samuel where guests can stay. It's however specifically intended to make their visit as frustrating as possible. The purpose of it is to allow able-bodied guests to experience some of the day to day accessibility challenges faced by disabled people.

Designed from Experience The uncomfortable abode is one of 19 rooms at the Art B&B, each designed by a different artist and each with a different theme. Christopher drew inspiration from his own experience as a wheelchair user staying in accommodation that was ill-equipped for his needs.

Three years ago, Christopher was forced to live in an unsuitable hotel room for three months due to a lack of accessible council accommodation.

He recalls: “I was technically made homeless. I couldn't sit at the table. I had to sleep in my wheelchair because I couldn't use the bed. I couldn't shut the bathroom door and I couldn't use the toilet, so I had to use a bucket."

Cold Comfort In the ‘Welcome Inn’, the bed is higher than usual and is surrounded by a large wooden frame so guests have to scramble in and out of it. Light

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switches are inconveniently placed and the bathroom door can’t fully close so there’s no privacy. The layout is awkward and difficult to manoeuvre around.

From Unusual to Frustrating Michael Trainor, creative director of the Art B&B said that while the installation could at first be entertaining for guests, the novelty rapidly wears off.

Christopher agrees: “On the surface level, it's quite playful and theatrical. I knew people would find it amusing at first, but in reality, when you live like

that every day it's not funny anymore.

It's inconvenient, it's frustrating and it's humiliating at times."

Prompting Wider Discussions

The newly designed rooms are now open for business and so far, the experience seems to be effective as most occupants of the Welcome Inn have only stayed for one night.

Christopher is hopeful that as more visitors experience it and word spreads it will prompt a wider discussion around accessibility. Unfortunately for Christopher, he hasn’t been able to see his completed project – as the room is inaccessible for him in his wheelchair.

Christopher jokes: “I think it's brilliant that I can’t see the finished ‘Welcome Inn’. It's perfect, this commission was perfect for me!"

For more information on the Welcome Inn or to experience it for yourself, visit the Art B&B’s website.

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Public transport can be a lifeline for those of us who don’t own a vehicle. However, for some users with a disability, public transport can come with its own set of challenges.

A recent survey commissioned by the charity, Scope, revealed that disabled people travel one third less than those without a disability. To address this, the Department for Transport has unveiled ‘It’s Everyone’s Journey’, a campaign focused on the accessibility of public transport and how to improve it.

Transport Troubles Scope revealed a massive 80% of disabled travellers felt stressed using or planning a journey on public transport. The reasons for these included difficulties with overcrowding, getting on and off trains or busses and appropriate seating.

Worryingly, according to the survey, one in four disabled people disliked travelling because of attitudes from other passengers.

Connecting People ‘It’s Everyone’s Journey’ has already partnered with a number of organisations to make meaningful changes to the lives of disabled travellers. Next, the campaign will turn its attention to changing the attitudes of other passengers. Look out for a television advertising campaign hitting our TV screens in the next few months.

In the meantime, transport companies such as British Airways, LNER and regional bus companies have already committed to supporting the project.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, Paralympian and peer in the House of Lords explains the ultimate aim of the cause.

She commented: “Too many disabled people are being isolated by a service which should be connecting us. If we are really serious about enabling disabled 28

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people to be independent, we have to make travelling easier.”

Off to a Flying Start British Airways recently launched Beyond Accessibility, a training programme to help improve inclusivity in their customer service. They also announced the creation of a specially trained customer care team, along with a dedicated phone line for travellers who need additional assistance. Elsewhere, the Government has also committed £2 million to improve facilities for bus travellers with visual and aural impairments. Martin Harris, managing director of Brighton and Hove busses explained the type of improvements travellers can expect.

Martin said: “Everybody deserves to feel happy

and confident while they travel. Our entire fleet is made up of ‘talking buses’, where passengers can see and hear next stop and other announcements, such as diversions.”

The Future of Accessible Travel Though the campaign has only recently been launched, it’s already off to a positive start. With more companies signing up to support it by the day, it’s clear progress is being made. After all, it’s everyone’s journey.

Motoring with Motability For those looking to travel in their own vehicle, thousands of disabled people in the UK have benefitted from the Motability Scheme and the innovative work of manufacturers of wheelchair accessible vehicles, such as Allied Mobility. In fact there are now more than 31,400

HomeStay™ Support from Allied Mobility At Allied Mobility, you’re our number one priority. We know car mishaps can happen and we also know how inconvenient it can be organising a repair for your wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Quick Response That’s why we’ve invested in 30 specialised mobile support vans that can come to your home to provide vehicle assistance when you need it most. We want to save you the worry of getting to and from a garage or arranging alternative transport while your car’s getting some TLC.

What About Vehicle Servicing?

Whether it’s your own car or a Motability vehicle, it’s important to keep your pride and joy up to date with the regular maintenance schedule recommended by its manufacturer. With Allied Mobility’s specialised support vans, you have the added benefit of receiving a roadside service**, right outside your own home.

How We Help

For most cars, a service is required either every year or two years and includes important safety inspections on things like brakes and tyres, changing vital lubricants and attending to a full list of checks designed to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

Are you having problems with a squeaky wheelchair ramp? Or is your electric winch tangled? Our helpful mobility advisors can help diagnose your problem over the phone. They’ll then arrange to have a mobile technician visit you at home to get you back on the road.*

With HomeStay™ from Allied Mobility, vehicle servicing is hassle free and saves you time and money. There’s no additional charge for this personalised service. If you own your own WAV, you still pay only standard maintenance rates, as you would at a regular motor dealer.

For Motability Car Scheme customers, all costs will be automatically covered through your Motability lease contract.

For more information on repairs or servicing, call our friendly advisors on 0800 916 3057 nd Trained a icians n ch te d certifie

Servicing where you are

30 mobile support va ns throughout the UK www.alliedmobility.com

*Accessible parts repairs available for all vehicles. **HomeStay™ vehicle servicing is currently available for Ford and Peugeot cars.

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UPDATE \\\ Lifetime Achievement Award for Baroness Grey-Thomson

It has been reported that over three million ticket requests have been received for the upcoming Paralympics in Tokyo in August 2020. With 22 sports on offer for spectators to enjoy, expectations are high.

Record-breaking Paralympian, Tanni Grey-Thomson, was honoured recently at the Sports Personality of the Year award show. With a sporting career spanning 23 years, Tanni has broken 30 track world records and collected 16 Paralympic medals along the way.

Of her win Tanni said: “I never thought as a young Welsh girl who had a dream of playing sport, when I was watching this programme, that one day I'd be in the audience, let alone on the stage.”

The Lifetime Achievement is awarded to an athlete who has had a major influence on the world of sport. Tanni is not only renowned for her decorated career in wheelchair racing but also as a champion of disability rights.

She acknowledged: “It's been an amazing journey to see where the Paralympic movement is today. For young people today we have to make sure they have an opportunity to get active and play sport.”

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Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, is delighted to see the surge in interest. He said: “It is an unprecedented number, three times more than in London [one year before the start of Games] and London was the most successful Paralympic Games so far.”

BRAILLE RUGBY PROJECT Blind and visually impaired rugby fans could soon be experiencing the game in an exciting new way.

In what is believed to be a world-first, not just for rugby but sport in general, the brand-new initiative has been introduced by Edinburgh Rugby.

Edinburgh Rugby Head of Community, Ruaridh Pye, explains: “The concept is simple but also complex. We have designed and produced a rugby pitch which is printed in braille, while providing an FM radio channelled to BBC Radio Scotland.”

5,432 visually impaired rugby fans were invited along to an Edinburgh match to trial the new project. They followed the match via commentary from personal headphones and were guided along the braille “pitch” – simulating where the match was taking place at any given time.

One visitor to the match said: “I’ve never been involved in a rugby game before. I’m actually getting more value coming to a game with the braille board.”

Former Paralympian Honoured with OBE After dedicating over 30 years to disabled sport charity, WheelPower, Martin McElhatton was recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours List.

The former Paralympian was awarded an OBE for services to sport.

Of his inclusion, Martin said: “It is a huge honour to receive an OBE and I am so proud of the work we have achieved here at WheelPower to give thousands of disabled people the joy of playing sport and seeing how it can positively impact their lives.”

‘ICE SURPRISE FOR SCOTLAND’S WHEELCHAIR CURLING TEAM Scotland’s wheelchair curlers came up trumps at the Scottish Sport Awards scooping the prize for the Disability Sports Award.

Skipper, Aileen Neilson, led the team to a silver medal in the World Championships. Of the win she said: “I’m completely delighted that the team has been recognised in this way and I hope it raises the profile of the sport.”

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Allied Mobility is the UK’s leading wheelchair accessible vehicles specialist, offering a wide range of mobility cars throughout the UK. Here’s just a few reasons why. ed nger limit nd lo o n m I’ a “ comfort by the dis t came with a hassle th ehicles.” v previous

“When I call e spoke to wa d, everyone I s so friendly helpful and the process and so easy.” was PEUGEOT HORIZON

Katie and Alicia Mole, Worcester

FORD INDEPENDENCE Stuart George, Bristol

"Since we've had en the WAV we've be , travelling all over our of making the most .” m new-found freedo

VOLKSWAGEN VISTA

Doreen and Phillip Nottingham

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