Surrey Inclusive Leisure

Stand up paddle boarding!

Looks like everyone had an amazing time at learning to paddle board.

Children & Young People Service team organised for the 11UP's group to go paddle boarding. Check out their page on Instagram for more details and for the great work the charity does to support people in the area. Looks like it was great fun!

is a beautiful place and there has been a lot of work to improve the facilities over the past couple of years. The team at SHAC would always be happy to discuss any accessibility needs you may have. It is worth bearing in mind that is is a natural area and therefore can be rough/soft under foot and uneven in places. Therefore it may not be suitable for those with significant mobility difficulties. However it is a feast for the natural senses, and wonderful to see the young people having such a great time!

📸 Photos shared with permission from .

Image description: collage of 6 photos showing various young people with visual impairments enjoying paddle boarding on a lake with support from the staff.

Disability History Month UK 2021....

Is in it's 12th year, and is running this year from 18th November. Visit www.ukdhm.org for more information.

The joint themes this year are:
- Disability and hidden impairments
- Disability s*x and relationships

The organisers aims are to:
- Celebrate lives as disabled people
- Challenge disabilism by exploring oppression over time and now
- Achieve equality

For me, it is a time to reflect and learn, listen to the disabled community, and hear their stories, concerns and aspirations for what the future may hold.

RHS Wisley -

We have visited several times recently as we have membership, which works out as much more cost effective than a single trip. It's really beautiful at this time of year with all the colours of the leaves changing.

There is plenty of accessible parking right at the front near the entrance. Huge amounts of the gardens have very flat, smooth paths which are ideal for anyone who needs to use walking aids, manual or powered wheelchairs.

There are some steeper slopes in some parts, and those using walkers or manual wheelchairs may need some assistance on these dependent on strength & endurance. Benches are available around the gardens for those who need a rest and you can also borrow the manual wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters available there if you don't have your own. Unfortunately, attendants cannot be provided, but entry is provided for two carers free of charge accompanying visitors whose disability necessitates their support.

We visited with friends and they had an off road wheelchair which meant we could get to places like the allotments down some of the more difficult paths (last two photos). Maps are provided showing the difficulty level of each paths so you can plan your route if you like.

There are disabled toilets in each of the buildings and two Changing Places toilets available on site (toilets with change beds & tracking hoists).

No dogs are allowed except of course registered support dogs.

I noticed also that some of the signs have braille in addition to written text. And hearing loops are installed in the Welcome building visitor entrance.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/plan-your-visit/Accessibility-at-Wisley gives a detailed breakdown of the accessibility of each area of the gardens which is really useful.

📸 Photos taken myself & permission given by parents of the children in the pictures.