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FLYING HIGH IN YORKSHIRE PERSONAL BEST SUMMER ISSUE 2017
EVERYONE CAN DANCE
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THE EDEN PROJECT WITH HELEN DOLPHIN
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USED WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES
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Miles: 38,500
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WELCOME Since our last Access All Areas we’ve been busy meeting with customers old and new at a number of events across the country, including excellent Motability events and our own Yorkshire Mobility Day, at the fantastic Yorkshire Air Museum.
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We catch up with the Dean family who recently took delivery of their new Volkswagen Vista™ and Aaron Morgan gives us an update on how his 2017 race season quite literally started with a bang. We take a look at the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association and the work they do in promoting wheelchair dancing as a sport and leisure activity across the country. We also share the delights of the stunning Eden Project in Cornwall through the eyes of our roving reporter, Helen Dolphin.
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Charity Focus - Parity for Disability ......... 9 Top 10 Activists ..................................... 10 Season Starts with a Bang ..................... 12 Acting on Impulse .................................. 16 The Eden Project ................................... 17 Flying High in Yorkshire ......................... 20 People's Parking .................................... 22 The Freedom has it all ........................... 24
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Everyone can Dance .............................. 27 Sports Update ....................................... 30
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News Round Up\\\
British Cycling Opens New Disability Hub in Leeds HSBC UK Disability Hubs provide dedicated para-cycling coaching sessions for riders who want to keep fit, have fun and improve their performance.
The sessions cost just £2 if you book online in advance or £5 on the day and are led by British Cycling Go-Ride coaches and supported by local volunteers.
British Cycling’s ninth site recently opened at the University of Leeds newly-built Brownlee Centre. The training facility is state-of-the-art and includes a 1.6km cycle circuit – one of the longest in the country.
The aim is to help riders to achieve a variety of goals, whether this be to get into a new sport, improve fitness and confidence on a bike, rehabilitation from injury or to train for a competition.
TRAVEL CHALLENGE
Court Cases Set to Increase Paul McGowan, from Redcar, told of his disgust after he was barred from boarding a train on his mobility scooter.
The number of people going to court to try to win back a key disability benefit is expected to continue to rise this year.
The father of one explained: “I was travelling to Middlesbrough to get the keys to my new property but when I went in for my tickets they said I wasn’t allowed on the train as I was a health and safety risk.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is gradually being replaced by another disability benefit scheme - the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The government says overall it is spending more on disability benefits and that PIP is a better system, based on individual need, than the “outdated” DLA scheme. Official figures show more than 250,000 people have lost money in the switch from DLA, some with incurable diseases.
Paul continued: “It’s not a very nice feeling. I was just angry and upset. I didn’t know what to do. It made me feel like I was a problem.” Paul has been suffering from brainstem encephalitis since he was seven years old, which leaves him incapable of walking far unaided.
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The number of people who appeal against PIP decisions has risen sharply in recent years as more people were switched to the new benefit. Around 65% of people who take their case to tribunal are successful, higher than for most other types of benefit.
TRIAL RAISES HOPE FOR MS SUFFERERS Scientists are hopeful a major new drug trial will establish that statins can be used to treat multiple sclerosis. The MS Society says the simvastatin study represents “a momentous step forward in our quest to find an effective treatment for progressive MS.” The low-cost drugs are typically prescribed to help lower levels of “bad cholesterol” associated with raised risk of a heart attack or stroke, but they have also shown “incredible promise” for the treatment of MS. A small study – involving 140 people – published in the Lancet in 2014 found that patients with secondary progressive MS, who took high doses of simvastatin had a significant reduction in the rate of brain atrophy over two years and also had better disability scores at the end of study. The new trial will be much larger, involving 1,180 people and will aim to establish whether the drug can slow disability progression. The £6m project has funding from the National Institute for Health Research, the charities MS Society UK and National MS Society (US), as well as from the NHS and British universities.
Mencap Facing Funding Crisis The learning disability charity Mencap has said it could face a financial crisis if it is forced to pay the minimum wage to 5,000 staff while they sleep at the homes of people they support in case they are needed during the night. The charity lost an appeal against a ruling that it was wrong to have paid a support worker £29.05 for a nine-hour sleep-in shift, or just under £3.23 an hour. The statutory minimum is £7.50 an hour. The judgment against Mencap is the latest twist in a wider battle over payment of sleep-in workers in the care sector. Standard practice has been to pay a flat sum for a shift, plus the minimum hourly rate for time when the worker is roused to help the person they support.
A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP Eight year old Marina, who was born in Russia with congenital limb differences and adopted at the age of two by a family in Devon, adores her “best friend”, eight-month-old Tag who she is helping to become a police dog.
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are on their way home from school and waits at the gate to greet them.”
Her mum, Jo Pritchard, said the bond between the two had helped improve Marina’s confidence.
The pair’s special bond was noticed during a recent puppy training session at Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters in Exeter when canine development officer Paul Glennon noticed that Tag showed unusual sensitivity and gentleness when interacting with the little girl.
Jo explained: “’Marina has had a special relationship with Tag from day one. He knows when Marina and her brother, Seth,
Paul recalled: “It was clear to me straight away at our police puppy training days that Tag and Marina were very close."
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Personal
For Terry Dean, from Rossendale in Lancashire, finding a vehicle that could cater for his daughter’s wheelchair and be big enough to accommodate his other children and grandchildren was made easy thanks to the Volkswagen Vista™.
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Terry, whose daughter Francesca has cerebral palsy and needs to travel in her wheelchair, has previously owned other WAVs of all makes and models but this was Terry’s first Allied Mobility car and he describes it as “the best we’ve ever had”.
Fantastic features
Terry and his family like to go out for trips together but with the new Vista™ it means that now they don’t need to take a second vehicle.
He comments: “It might sound ridiculous but from a carers point of view it’s so much easier to use".
Terry explains: “The Vista has five full seats plus the wheelchair space whereas our previous WAVs only had three or four spaces. This means we can now all go out together as a family in the same vehicle, as with my children and grandchildren there are six of us.”
Terry is also enjoying the ease with which he can now get Francesca into and out of the vehicle as his Vista™ came equipped with an assist winch and four point wheelchair restraint system.
Although Francesca usually uses a motorised wheelchair, if she’s in her manual chair you can just attach the winch and it helps pull her straight in Features like that are fantastic.”
Great Price When Terry starting looking for a
Best new wheelchair accessible vehicle he couldn’t believe how affordable the Allied Mobility Vista™ is, given its capacity and features.
Terry comments: “l was really surprised by the price of the Vista. Compared to other companies it seemed to be thousands of pounds cheaper. I couldn’t believe it to start with and thought they must be selling something radically different but Allied’s local representative explained that they can be very competitive on price as they sell a large number of cars.”
Speedy Service Terry was also amazed by the speed at which his new vehicle arrived, “I was expecting a three to four month wait from
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This means we can now all go out together as a family in the same vehicle
test driving the Vista to receiving the vehicle but because Allied had the colour we chose in stock it was delivered just three weeks later. The process was wonderfully easy.”
Payments starting from £2,495. This impressive MPV offers the ideal solution for small groups or large families looking for a stylish wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Terry had nothing but praise for his local Allied Mobility consultant Philip: “He was great, very knowledgeable and not at all pushy. The whole process was aimed at making it right for Francesca and not just trying to sell me the car. He took photographs of everything to check there was enough head room and that attention to detail made quite a difference.”
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Volkswagen Vista™ wheelchair accessible vehicles are available exclusively from Allied Mobility. Vista™ is available to buy, rent or via the Motability Scheme, with Advance
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0800 587 9640 info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com/vista
0800 587 9640
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Discover the unique benefits of Allied Aftercare™ alliedmobility.com/aftercare
CHANGE ON THE
HORIZON The UK’s most popular wheelchair accessible vehicle is now better than ever.
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No obligation UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640
costs and replace or update equipment. Minibuses alone require £15,000 each year to keep the fleet on the road.
Access All Areas takes a closer look at Parity for Disability, which provides specialist services for people aged 18+ with multiple disabilities from Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. Parity for Disability exists to help people with multiple disabilities after they leave full-time education, when the services they received as children dramatically decline. Without the right support, they and their families can face a bleak future.
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The regular trips out that the students choose would not be possible without Parity's fleet of adapted minibuses
Visitors are most welcome too, so if you’d like to attend one of the day services and meet the staff and students call Helene on 01252 375581 or email helene@parityfordisability.org.uk.
Getting out and About
Regular trips out are made possible thanks to Parity's fleet of adapted minibuses and students are encouraged to come up with bold and new ideas for their excursions.
The charity provides day services, for their clients (called students) to help them build independence, make choices, be included socially and hold onto important life skills. Their physio, speech and communication needs are overseen by qualified therapists.
Parity also operates an Activity Scheme for young people with multiple disabilities in the Easter and summer holidays and a music therapy programme. They have to raise between £170,000 and £200,000 each year to cover day service and minibus running
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Allied Mobility is delighted to support Parity for Disability. Find out more at: www.parityfordisability.org.uk facebook/ParityforDisability
www.alliedmobility.com
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1. Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame - Ghana As a young girl Gertrude attended a school for the blind and went on to become a teacher for students with special educational needs. Her role as a global advocacy advisor for Sightsavers involves advocating for and providing advice on social inclusion programmes to country teams and partners.
2. Peter Ogik -
Uganda
Peter was the first person to be born with albinism in his family. Most people didn’t want to be associated with him believing that he was cursed. In 2012, Peter founded the Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism. Through the organisation, he fights discrimination against people with albinism and educates communities about the condition.
5. Bahati Satir Omar - Rwanda Bahati planned to become a doctor but lost his sight suddenly and couldn’t attend university. Fearing that he would end up begging on the street, Bahati went to school for six months to learn how to read and write braille. He went on to set up Uwezo Youth Empowerment, which attempts to empower children with disabilities. Their first project was supporting young people with disabilities to secure employment through six-month paid internships.
7. Yetnebersh Nigussie - Ethiopia Yetnebersh describes losing her eyesight at the age of five as an opportunity as it helped her to escape from the early marriage which was widely exercised in Amhara Saint Wollo, Ethiopia. Yetnebersh has worked on a number of rights issues and now, with Light for the World, advocates and promotes the rights of people with disabilities.
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TO
10 ACT
CHANGING LIVES FO
Despite facing social stigma, economic ex activists around the world are fightin
8. Zamir Dhale -
INDIA
Deaf by birth and having lost his vision at the age of nine, Zamir hails from Nasik and is proficient in tactile signing language and can communicate easily. Addressing gatherings at various world forums, including UNCRPD, he has visited numerous countries including Mexico, the USA, Britain, Holland and Nepal to create awareness on disability.
3. Silvia Quan -
Guatemala When she lost her eyesight in her 20s, while on a career path in maths and science, Silvia refused to accept the status quo or excuses for inaction. Silvia is a former officer for the protection of persons with disabilities at the Attorney General’s Office for Human Rights in Guatemala, she is known for her important input in shaping the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
IVISTS
OR DISABLED PEOPLE
xclusion and everyday physical challenges, ng for the rights of disabled people.
Shilpi is the founder of BarrierBreak and 247 Accessible Documents. She believes passionately that technology can be the game changer for inclusion. She is motivated to ensure that as the organisation grows, it impacts the lives of disabled people globally and has developed NewzHook - the World’s first inclusive news app.
KENYA
Fred recalls stepping into the interview room of a wellknown multinational and being met with frowns and looks of disappointment. An interview that took fifteen minutes for other candidates took two minutes in his case, and his fate was sealed. Fred didn’t look for another job. Instead, he started Action Network for the Disabled with the purpose of ridding the formal workplace of stigma and discrimination toward young people with disabilities.
6. Firoz Alizada - Afghanistan
OP
9. Shilpi Kapoor -
4. Fred Ouko -
india
Firoz lost his legs after stepping on a landmine when he was just 13 years old. After six months he gradually recovered and started to learn about the rights for people with disabilities. In 2007, Firoz and a couple of friends founded an NGO called Afghan Landmine Survivors’ Organisation to provide psychosocial support for people with disabilities.
10. Mosharraf Hossain - Bangladesh Working for Action on Disability and Development International in Bangladesh, Mosharraf helped people with disabilities in rural areas, visiting their homes to try to understand how they were effected stigma and then creating a programme to change these attitudes.
0800 587 9640
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AAron morgan
Aaron's Season Starts with a Bang
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See Aaron at: 16th July – Castle Combe, 20th August – Silverstone, 17th September – Rockingham, and 22nd October – Brands Hatch Follow his progress on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/ alliedmobility/
With Aaron being a wheelchair user, his car has been adapted to have special clutch, accelerator and brake controls. Having got to grips with the Compact Cup series in recent years, he was confident ahead of the first event of the season. Aaron explained: “I went into the weekend a bit on the back foot having not done any testing but with Silverstone being one of my favourite tracks I was still optimistic. I was relatively cautious over the first few qualifying laps to check the car was working as it should and get my tyres up to temperature.” He continued: “I quickly got into a good rhythm and felt confident about setting some competitive lap times. I then encountered some traffic but a clear last lap meant I could get back to maximum pace. “In our championship, our first race
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Aaron Morgan kicked off his 2017 BMW Compact Cup campaign at the home of British racing, Silverstone.
I was then towed back to the pits – further inspection allowed us to quickly determine that the engine had blown. grid is determined by our quickest qualifying times and the second race grid by our second quickest qualifying times. I managed to qualify in 15th for race one and as my qualifying times were consistent I was in 13th for race two.”
Progress Halted Aaron made a good start to race one and as ever some fierce battles are never far away with him embroiled in one for 15th position. Passing was plentiful over the first few laps and mistakes in front of enabled him to move further up the field. However, on lap seven he was to encounter mechanical problems. Aaron added: “I was making my way down the back straight when the car made a funny noise and I could then hear pieces of metal bouncing off the bottom of the car. I quickly looked in my mirror and a huge trail of smoke was following me. I pulled off the track
and brought the car to a stop before I was then towed back to the pits – further inspection allowed us to quickly determine that the engine had blown.” He concIuded: “I was absolutely gutted after having such a good qualifying session and due to the schedule there was not enough time between races to have the engine changed so I had to sit out the second one. This was a very disappointing way to start the season but I’ve taken positives from the weekend, especially my performance in qualifying.” While it wasn’t the result Aaron was looking for, he is confident going forward and hopefully the next race, which takes place at Castle Combe, will be more successful.
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0800 587 9640
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ACCESS FOR NEW
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Luxurious quality and style > EasyFold™ go-flat ramp > Full original Volkswagen seating > Air conditioning > Cruise control > Privacy glass > Parking sensors > Assist winch
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> Easy clean lowered floor > Unique EasyGlide™ pull-out ramp > Original Ford seating throughout* > RE model for larger wheelchairs > Easy-use electric winch and parking sensors > Air conditioning > Privacy glass > Grand Freedom also available with up to 7 seats
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Roomy and comfortable > Personalised seating options > Air conditioning > Automatic tail lift or ramp > Bluetooth® > DAB radio †£500 saving in comparison to Q2 Advance Payment - £5,995
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Personalised seating layouts Lightweight EasyFold™ ramp Easy-use electric winch and parking sensors PLUS Alloy wheels, privacy glass and new Bluetooth® connectivity
All vehicles certified for larger and heavier wheelchairs
ACTING ON IMPULSE Allied Mobility aims to cater for as many different disability-related transport needs as possible and drivefrom-wheelchair vehicles offer the ultimate in mobility independence for wheelchair users.
Drive from Your Wheelchair Using the handy remote control key fob, you can raise the automatic tailgate and lower the automatic ramp, even from the comfort of your own home.
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What's fantastic about Impulse is the fact that one vehicle can offer so many options
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Discover a renewed sense of freedom with the fabulous Peugeot Impulse™.
With the tailgate up, you can simply ascend the ramp and enter Impulse on your own, before raising the ramp and lowering the tailgate behind you, ready for travel. Your options with Impulse™ do not end there though. Impulse™ can also make for an ideal up-front passenger vehicle. This means you can easily and quickly take your wheelchair right through to the front of the car, ready to travel alongside the driver. In addition, the full flat floor within Impulse™ also facilitates internal transfer for people who prefer to enter the vehicle in their wheelchair and then transfer to the driver’s seat for their journey.
Two Wheelchairs Up Front Impulse™ is compact and easy to park but with both the driver and front passenger seat removed, Impulse™ still has room for two wheelchairs up front. This makes Impulse™ the ultimate wheelchair car for families or couples with two wheelchair users. It’s also ideal for a power chair driver who wishes to take another wheelchair user along on their travels. Allied Mobility sales director, David Facenna, comments: “What’s fantastic about Impulse is the fact that one vehicle can offer so many options. Anything which offers wheelchair users more freedom or choice is a plus in our book.”
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0800 587 9640 info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com/impulse
THE EDEN PROJECT With Helen Dolphin Helen Dolphin MBE discovers another fascinating attraction in the latest of her series for Access All Areas.
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\\\ The Eden Project is essentially a complex of giant domes known as ‘biomes.’ These biomes are the largest greenhouses in the world and have become one of Cornwall’s most famous landmarks.
On arrival, I was pleased to see a sign for accessible parking in a car park called Apple 1, which I duly followed. I was visiting on a weekday, in term time but even by 10.00am the car park was filling up quickly. However, there’s a drop off point close to the entrance so if you can’t park close enough you could get dropped off. I took my own wheelchair but if you need to borrow one there are about 40 manual chairs available free of charge on a first come, first served basis. There are also six powered chairs which are available to book in advance. Call the box office team on 01726 811911. 18
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If you need a changing places toilet do be aware there’s only one available in the visitors centre which is some distance from the biomes, so I’d advise making use of it before you make your way down. Otherwise there are plenty of accessible toilets dotted all over the site. Giant Plants As you come out of the visitors centre you have a choice of which route to use to take you to the biomes. The choice is minimum gradient, gentle gradient or land train. We decided that we’d go for minimum gradient which involved a short walk over a bridge and then down a lift. This way provided a great view out over the Eden Project. Most people opted for the gentle gradient route which is a zig-zag path with a continuous 1:18 gradient. Had it not been pouring with rain I may have decided to use this route instead as it takes you through some gardens but I wanted to get inside as quick as possible. We decided to look round the smaller Mediterranean Biome first which contains landscapes of the Mediterranean, South Africa, California and Western Australia. As you enter this
biome there is a beautiful display of bright red geraniums which grow fantastically well in this particular climate. If you’re a gardener you may find yourself wondering why your own plants are about half the size of the ones growing here. I know I did. The Mediterranean Biome was a good temperature for walking about when I visited, probably because it was raining outside but if you visit when it’s sunny this biome can be as hot as 25°C. Sun cream is recommended at the Eden project because even though the biomes feel like you’re indoors they offer little protection from the sun. Rain Forest After looking round the Mediterranean Biome we walked over to the Rainforest Biome which contains rainforest environments from the Tropical Islands, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Tropical South America. This biome is 50 metres tall and houses the world’s largest indoor rainforest. The main attraction is the treetop walkway which is accessible except for the Canopy Rope Bridge. Although the gradients are quite gentle it is quite an effort for
someone pushing themselves. If you think it might be a bit of a struggle the Eden Project does offer a scheme where they will provide you with a volunteer to assist. One of the biggest attractions in the Rainforest Biome is the titan arum (corpse flower). This is the biggest flower in the world and can take years to reach full size. At the time I visited it had just died off which was probably a good thing as its smell is supposed to be terrible! Other attractions here include exhibits on rubber production, global warming and chocolate making. Where to Eat After spending a few hours looking round the biomes I decided it was time for a coffee. There are so many different food places to choose from you really are spoilt for choice. I decided to go to the Eden Kitchen which is situated between the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes. There are big wooden benches to sit at but I could fit at the end of the table quite comfortably in my wheelchair.
As well as the biomes, the Eden Project has over 20 acres of garden to explore. One of my favourite outdoor gardens was the Spiral Garden which is situated behind the core building. This is a sensory garden and here there are some plants with amazing smells. On a beautiful day I’m sure its lovely strolling around the gardens looking at the plants and sculptures but for me it was more a case of put my hood up and brave the weather!
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There are so many different food places to choose from you really are spoilt for choice
of activities and areas for children so it’s a great place for young and old. I really enjoyed my visit and it’s given me some inspiration for my garden at home. I’d love to return but hopefully next time the sun will be shining so I have more time to explore the beautiful gardens.
Accessible When it was time to leave I decided to take the land train back up to the visitor centre. You can pick the train up by the stage area which is used for live concerts during the summer and in winter hosts a full size ice rink which you can go on in a manual chair. The last carriage on the train has been adapted to accommodate up to three wheelchairs. This journey takes you through more gardens on your way back and delivers you right outside the visitor centre. Although the Eden Project is a large complex I felt a lot of thought and effort had been put into making it accessible for everyone. There are a lot
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www.edenproject.com To pre-book assistance email ccorbett@edenproject.com or call 01726 818558
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FLYING HIGH \\\ IN YORKSHIRE Allied Mobility’s first event of 2017 was held at the fantastic Yorkshire Air Museum, near York and proved to be a highly enjoyable day for everyone who attended.
The event, which also played host to various local mobility stores and disability charities, saw over 460 people come out to enjoy the sunshine and visit the UK’s largest independent air museum.
Piece of History The Yorkshire Air Museum sits on the site of former RAF Elvington in North Yorkshire, a World War Two airfield used extensively by bomber crews. The airfield was a perfect backdrop to the event as attendees could enjoy an amazing array of planes while finding out more about wheelchair accessible vehicles, scooters and other mobility aids. Visitors came from all over the country to attend and as the day went on, the supply of chocolate and lemon drizzle cake proved especially popular!
Meet the Family Allied Mobility’s entire family of wheelchair accessible vehicles were on
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display including the UK’s favourite wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) – the Peugeot Horizon™. As the most popular WAV on the Motability scheme, Horizon™ is ideal for those looking for a vehicle which is stylish, safe and offers optimum accessibility. Visitors were also impressed by the popular Volkswagen Vista™. Unlike many other wheelchair accessible vehicles, Vista™ retains Volkswagen’s original rear seating providing ample space for driver, wheelchair passenger and up to four seated passengers. In addition, both the Ford Freedom™ and Ford Independence™ received plenty of interest. The Freedom™ combines ultra-modern comfort and style with the unique EasyGlide™ access ramp while Independence™ is perfect for larger families or small groups requiring wheelchair accessible transport.
Plenty for Everyone With so much on display, there was plenty for people of all ages to enjoy including the opportunity to find out more about the products and services on offer from partners including Oak Tree Mobility, Elite Mobility, Minster Mobility, Newlife, Disability Sports Yorkshire, Disability Action Yorkshire,
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Look out for future events at www.alliedmobility.com/events or connect with us on social media
Buy Used Vehicles with Confidence
Approved Used Cars
Allied Mobility customers can buy a used car with complete confidence thanks to our being an RAC Approved Dealer.
RAC BuySure Allied Mobility can now offer RAC BuySure on every used vehicle purchased.
Car Data Check 82 point Vehicle Preparation Standard 12 months RAC Warranty 12 months RAC Breakdown Cover 12 months RAC Accident Care
“Allied Mobility has been confirmed as an RAC Approved Dealer based on quality, integrity and our desire to deliver excellent customer service.�
Interested in viewing an approved used wheelchair accessible vehicle?
Call us on 0800 587 9640 or visit alliedmobility.com/rac-approved-dealer/
People's Parking \\\ Making Parking Easy
Location, Location, Location People’s Parking also highlights car parks which have facilities for disabled people, parents with children, people
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Find out more or download the handbook at www.peoplesparking.org
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who drive electric vehicles, those who drive light commercial vehicles/camper vans and those who drive wheelchair accessible vehicles. Car parks which are great for shopping and those situated at transport interchanges are also identified. In addition it can be helpful to know if pay-by-phone or a pre-book service is available, so these features are also accredited by the scheme.
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People’s Parking is a disability-oriented accreditation scheme for car parks. Designed by Helen Dolphin MBE, it’s primarily aimed at improving car parks for customers by enabling people to find a car park which meets their needs. In addition it aims to drive up standards in the parking industry as all car parks wishing to achieve People’s Parking accreditation must demonstrate that they have good signage and pedestrian routes are well lit, clean and actively managed. If a car park meets these basic criteria it’s awarded the general accreditation.
Enabling people to find a car park which meets their needs.
All Inclusive Finally, People’s Parking is not just about motorists. Many cyclists struggle to find somewhere safe and secure to leave their bicycles, so car parks that provide this service can be recognised too.
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0800 587 9640
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Discover the benefits of Allied Aftercare™ alliedmobility.com/aftercare
ACT ON
IMPULSE
TM
Drive-from your wheelchair
Lowest drive-from
2 - 4 seats
ADVANCE PAYMENT
PEUGEOT PARTNER
IMPULSE
only
Drive-from your wheelchair
£9,995
Wheelchair passenger up-front Two wheelchairs together up-front Automatic tailgate and ramp Interior flat-floor PLUS air conditioning, privacy glass and new Bluetooth® connectivity
No obligation UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640
the Freedom The Draytons, from Braunton, in North Devon, are enjoying getting out and about in their new Ford Freedom™ The Ford Freedom™ is Russ and Heather Drayton’s second wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) and when it came to deciding which supplier to contact they didn’t need to think twice. Russ explained: “We had purchased our 24
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previous car from Allied Mobility and were absolutely delighted with the service so didn’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss our requirements this time around. He continued: “I had originally contacted three different companies and Allied were the first to respond. Arranging the home demonstration was also seamless so I didn’t even consider anyone else on this occasion.”
Wide Choice The Draytons requirement for a WAV came about because Heather had a Subarachnoid
haemorrhage and couldn’t get around as easily as she used to. Russ added: “We needed a to sort something as quickly as possible following Heather’s haemorrhage and we were on the road in no time at all. However, when it came to renewing their vehicle Russ had carried out extensive research on the latest options available from Allied Mobility’s wide range. He explained: “The Freedom is a fantastic vehicle with numerous features and it’s also extremely comfortable. Here in North Devon we have small lanes and lots of hills
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This time I went straight back to Allied because of their level of service and their selection of vehicles. I didn’t even consider anyone else.”
has it all but we have noticed a big improvement in terms of fuel economy.”
Time to Talk Russ and Heather are also enjoying other added benefits that come as standard with Freedom™. He explained: “One of the things we’ve really noticed is how quiet the Freedom is and this allows us to talk without struggling to hear what each other is saying makes the journey much more pleasurable.”
for the same great service from their local mobility consultant and weren’t disappointed: “When Rob visited us I knew exactly what to expect and yet again it was a really simple process.” Ford Freedom™ is available to buy, rent or via the Motability Scheme, with Advance Payments starting from £2,095.
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0800 587 9640
info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com/ freedom
Having already bought a vehicle from Allied Mobility, the Draytons were hoping
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0800 587 9640
www.alliedmobility.com
Discover the benefits of Allied Aftercare™ alliedmobility.com/aftercare
ENJOY YOUR
FREEDOM
Accessibility, comfort and first class safety
3 - 7 seats
Lowest Ford WAV
Vehicles in stock now
FORD CONNECT
FREEDOM
TM
ADVANCE PAYMENT from only
£2,095
Easy clean lowered floor Original Ford seating throughout*
RS model
*
RE model forlarger largerand wheelchairs Certifi ed for heavier wheelchairs Unique EasyGlide™ pull-out ramp Easy-use electric winch and parking sensors PLUS air conditioning and privacy glass. Grand Freedom with extra seating now available
No obligation UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640
EVERYONE CAN DANCE With PATRICK MCGEOuGH The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association UK is the national governing body for Para Dance Sport within the UK and is also a key figurehead in non-genre specific inclusive dance.
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The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association UK is the national governing body for Para Dance Sport within the UK and is also a key figurehead in non-genre specific inclusive dance. It's aim is to promote and develop wheelchair dancing as a sport and leisure activity across the country and to raise the standard of instruction and competition in the UK and internationally. It’s also about making dance, in whatever form, fun, exciting and something that individuals who’re part of the association proud to say “I can do that”.
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Hip Hop to Foxtrot Wheelchair dance sport and wheelchair dancing is accessible to anyone, with no boundaries in terms of age or level of ability. From hip-hop to the foxtrot, dance fever is sweeping the nation, fuelled by popular TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent. Dance is the UK’s fastest growing art form. More than 4.8 million people regularly attend community dance groups each year in England alone. Research suggests that regular dancing is great for losing weight, maintaining healthy bones, improving posture and muscle strength, increasing balance and co-ordination and beating stress. It’s also great for meeting new people and making friends.
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Inclusive dance has been instrumental in getting more disabled people active in group and social activity.
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More than 4.8 million people regularly attend community dance groups each year in England alone. Feedback WDSA consistently evaluates different courses, events, services to the public, taster sessions and demonstrations through surveys, interviews, written feedback and case studies. As a charity providing a service, it’s always keen to know what everyone thinks regarding how they run the organisation, so they can improve as they continue to grow.
Hub Centre, WDSA staff hoped to improve opportunities for children and young people with SEND (special educational needs and disability) and allow them to freely take part in dancing." The WDSA continue to provide dance for all across the UK, with the help of organisations like Allied Mobility because they truly believe that everyone can dance.
Young and Old Over the past year, WDSA has worked with Sanctuary Housing Group to start a programme of wheelchair dancing within their facilities, with a view to extending it into further care homes across the country. Patrick McGeough from WDSA explains: "During the programme at Sanctuary Housing all of the managers were very enthusiastic, even reporting that some staff were coming in on their days off just to take part in wheelchair dancing.
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To findToout more about wheelchair read Doug Paulley's dance and the WDSA visit blog visit www.wdsauk.co.uk www.kingqueen.org.uk
He continued: "WDSA wanted to progress and develop wheelchair dance sport within local schools in Hertfordshire, with a view to extending the programme to other counties. By working with Lonsdale School in Hertfordshire, an appointed Wheelchair
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BRITAIN TO HOST 2017 EVENT Britain will host the 2017 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) European Judo Championships from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 August. The event at the University of Wolverhampton Sports Complex in Walsall will feature a number of Rio 2016 Paralympic medallists.
It will be the first opportunity for judoka to pick up world ranking points in the Tokyo 2020 cycle. Great Britain last hosted the Europeans in 2011 in Crawley. Judo for blind and visually-impaired athletes is similar to the sighted sport, but fighters start the bouts gripped up. The competition will be followed by a three-day training camp giving athletes the opportunity to train alongside some of Britain's best sighted judoka at the British Judo Centre of Excellence.
Fresh Challenge Paralympic silver and bronze medallist Charlotte Henshaw has retired from swimming and taken up canoeing. 30
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The Briton, who won silver at London 2012 and bronze at Rio 2016, holds the SB6 100m breaststroke European record. “I watched the brilliant paracanoe performances in Rio and was keen to try something new,� said
Charlotte, who has had both legs amputated above the knee. Henshaw began canoeing at the end of 2016 and hopes to qualify for the European Championships as she sets her sights on competing at another Paralympics.
BEYOND BREXIT Brexit could force disabled table tennis players at the UK’s first Club of Sanctuary to pull out of “amazing” international projects and tournaments, its co-founder has warned. Brighton Table Tennis Club’s (BTTC) 20-strong squad faces losing funding from a €50,000 Erasmus Plus grant administered by the EU. Tim Holton, 32, co-founder of the club, said the money “subsidised travel and competition for over 300 people to go on six exchanges between countries and share good practice”. The grant is set to rise to €500,000 next year, to fund an expansion of the scheme that will see disabled table tennis teams from 12 different countries participate. But Holton warned that his own squad could lose all its EU funding and be barred from the competition after Brexit officially happens, expected to be in Spring 2019.
Going Out at the Top British Paralympic swimming champion Susie Rodgers has announced her retirement after a sixyear international career. Susie, 33, won S7 50m butterfly gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, also claiming 50m and 400m freestyle bronze. She won three bronze medals at London 2012, her first Paralympic games, a year after her international debut at the European Championships in Berlin. She is undefeated in the 50m butterfly at European Championships since winning gold at Berlin 2011, having also won three straight European golds in the 100m and 400m freestyle events. "I want to leave at the top," explained Susie.
ENGLAND APPOINT SALISBURY The England and Wales Cricket Board has named Ross Hunter and Ian Salisbury as England's first ever full-time disability cricket coaches.
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Find out more at Find out more at or saschakindredco.uk www.ecb.co.uk/england/disability @SaschaKindfred
Ex-England international Salisbury has been appointed as new head coach of England's physical disability team. Hunter will continue his work as coach of England's visually impaired side, now in a full-time capacity. The ECB's head of disability cricket, Ian Martin, said: "This is an important step change in disability cricket."
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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.
“It’s so easy to get Rachel in and out of the car, which is crucial for me and the rest of the family.”
PEUGEOT HORIZON The Cole Family, Northamptonshire
“We really felt at ease when dealing with Rob as the service had a great personal touch.”
FORD FREEDOM The Hallet Family, Hampshire
VOLKSWAGEN VISTA James Pye, Staffordshire
"From ordering the car to the punctual delivery of my vehicle, I couldn’t fault the process at all.”
0800587 5879640 9640 0800 www.alliedmobility.com
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Allied Mobility is a credit broker (not a lender) in relation to this financial promotion. Motability Scheme vehicles are leased to customers by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HB. To qualify you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) and applications must be made between 1st July and 30th September 2017. Prices are correct at time of print, are subject to availability and may change.