Enablise.org.uk
(Enabling people with disabilities to action accessibility improvement through their awareness led expertise)
Welcome to the website for the Enablise Project which is part of the charity, Disabled Holiday Information.
Roy, Phillip and Frank, members of the Enablise team at a training event at Ellesmere
This new project is based in Shropshire and still in its infancy however as it grows our hope is to provide more detailed information about the project work and the events/outcomes it achieves on this website.
About the Project
Enablise has been created following a set of pilot projects where our volunteers have been involved in disability awareness training days and accessibility consultation with local authority countryside access teams and visitor attractions In Shropshire and Cheshire.
It's primary aim is to enable our volunteers to provide an insider awareness led advice and support service for countryside sites and attraction providers wishing to improve their facilities for visitors with easier access needs.
The work the volunteers engage in will provide them with opportunities to improve their own communication and social skills. It will also enable them to pass on the wealth of knowledge they possess about the barriers that can face people with disabilities when they wish to access the countryside and visitor attractions.
For more information about the project please contact info@enablise.org.uk
Project Aims
The Projects short term aim is to source funding to provide a dedicated project manager who will be able to fully support existing volunteers and gradually extend the number of people involved. By obtaining commissioned consultancy work which will generate income, the long term aim is for the Project to become self sustaining.
We are pleased to announce the Charity’s Enablise Project has been accepted as a candidate for a Nat West Community Force Grant. The 3 projects with the largest number of votes in each area will be successful. To avoid vote rigging it is necessary to register and it takes a few minutes of time but if you think the project is worthwhile we would really be grateful for your vote as each vote we receive could make the difference between success and failure. Once registered you can vote for up to 3 projects of your choice. Clicking on the link below will take you straight to our project page.
Our project details :-
http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2258
Examples of Project Outcomes (so far)
A positive outcome at Onny Meadows in Craven Arms
Roy our volunteer researcher experiencing difficulty with a gate catch at Onny Meadows
Roy testing out the new catches fitted following his advice
Conducting on-site Access Audits
Assessing a countryside site at Llanymynech
Conducting access audits to highlight possible improvements is an important part of the projects work. The photo above shows an on-site visit on behalf of Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Other audits include access to and the appropriate siting of a new accessible river fishing platform at Chirk Fishery, and advising on best practice for new 'all ability trails' to be located at Bayston Hill Community Woodland and Chirk Castle.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities include :-
Outreach Work
Volunteers manning a stand at the County Carers Conference
Volunteers are able to give hands-on advice about accessibility information to local groups with similar needs and experiences to their own through giving presentations and attending information events.
Research Days
Volunteer researchers from Avalon Opportunities
Following funding from the Community Council for Shropshire and Access to Volunteering Fund a series of consultations were set up with a steering group of people with multiple disabilities and their support workers. The aim was to produce a Volunteer Guidance Pack and a series of accessibility audit data collection sheets that did not solely rely on text but would incorporate appropriate symbols and so meet everyone's needs.
The new pack has now been produced and as well as providing guidance for all volunteers it acts as a record for new skills gained and tasks achieved providing a CV of each individuals volunteering role.
Cathy trialling the new Countryside Trails Tick List at a Training day
At the present time the Project works with sets of volunteers from 3 Day Opportunities located in and around the Oswestry area in Shropshire. Their ability to assess visitor experience from a wide variety of perspectives and access needs has rapidly made their research an extremely important part of the Charity's information base
Volunteers from Avalon Opportunities have recently visited and assessed Knowsley Safari Park, Bala Lake Railway (pictured above), Llangollen Horse Drawn Boats and Birkenhead Park. Their latest accessibility audit was for Sefton Park in Liverpool. Their experiences and the data they have collected has now been assimilated into the DHI website search database.
Bev Phillips assessing access at Cadbury World
Two volunteers from Lorne Street Opportunities recently visited Cadbury World in Birmingham and volunteers from Ellesmere Opportunities have visited Ty Mawr Country Park and Trevor Canal Basin.
Awareness Led Training Events
DHI Enablise is currently joint hosting a series of Countryside for All Training Events in Shropshire (with the Fieldfare Trust and Shropshire Council Joint Training) that provide on-site practical and classroom based workshops.
The coursea will be suitable for countryside practitioners, volunteers and other people who would like to develop a
better understanding of inclusive countryside access and an insight into the access needs of countryside users with
disabilities.
The course, which is free-of-charge, enables participants to:
Demonstrate an understanding of disability issues
Experience countryside access from a different perspective
Explore best practice in developing inclusive access
The next Course Date for Countryside For All training is :-
Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of October 2011
to be held at
Shrewsbury Sports Village
To download a booking form please click here
For further information about our main Charity Disabled Holiday Information and to search for accessible attractions, activities, accommodation and countryside trails throughout the UK please click here.