Scotland’s first beach wheelchair loan scheme has been launched just in time for summer thanks to a £10,000 lottery award.
Free of Charge
Wheelchairs with specially-designed wheels that can cope with wet or dry sand will soon be available to rent free of charge from Beach Hut at North Berwick Harbour. The chairs are suitable for all ages and are designed to help users to enjoy a day at the beach with their family and friends
The Beach Wheelchair project received the £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Ideas programme, the aim of which is to provide small grants that enable groups to test and develop ideas. The group worked closely with the local community in North Berwick – holding a taster event to put the chairs through their paces – and received resoundingly positive feedback from over 100 families.
Blown Away By Support
“Our ultimate aim would be to replicate it in other parts of the country so more people can enjoy more of Scotland’s beautiful beaches.”
Co-founder and chair of the Beach Wheelchair project, Alison Brown, said: “As a mum of a six-year-old boy with a physical disability I know firsthand what a difference these wheelchairs can make.
“I’m looking forward to using the child’s beach wheelchair with my son so that he can meet his friends at the beach.”
Co-founder and group secretary, Jackie Tagg, said she had been “blown away” by the support for the project.
She added: “We’ve met individuals who have never been on the beach, and families that no longer go to the seaside as they can’t go onto the beach together. This scheme will help to change that and our ultimate aim would be to replicate it in other parts of the country so more people can enjoy more of Scotland’s beautiful beaches.”
Great Success
Having proved such a great success so far, Beach Hut hopes that the Beach Wheelchair project will eventually be rolled out across the rest of Scotland.
Find out more by visiting the Beach Wheelchair Project website.
