Now more can hit the shores
A CHARITY is aiming to help more people with disabilities enjoy the region’s beaches after winning funding.
Beach Access North East loans free beach-accessible wheelchairs which allow users to enjoy as much freedom as possible at the seaside, and visit areas that would otherwise remain out of reach due to mobility issues.
The charity has two wheelchairs and a floating chair available at Tynemouth Longsands, two wheelchairs at Blyth South Beach and two longer leg length three-wheeler chairs that can be used at both locations.
After being nominated by Lorna Moore, one of the charity’s founders and a customer at Newcastle Building Society’s Park View branch in Whitley Bay, a £3,000 grant from the society has enabled the charity to buy a new Freedom Trax all-terrain electric wheelchair.
The funding has been provided by the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund, set up to provide grants to charities and groups in or around the communities served by the society’s branch network, and that have been nominated for support by its customers.
Beach Access North East operates all year round, with volunteers storing the wheelchairs at their homes and bringing them to the beach whenever reservations are made. It recently put its own storage container in place next to the Blyth Battery, which makes the wheelchairs more easily accessible.
It is also working with Newbiggin Maritime Centre, where two new chairs are located, and is hoping to extend its service to cover Whitley Bay beach.
The charity, which has recordbreaking North East Paralympian Stephen Miller as its honorary president, is also investigating whether mats could be used on certain sections of beach to make access even easier, and is planning to buy beach walkers that will help stroke patients stay steady as they cross the sand.
Caroline Corfield, who set up the charity with Lorna Moore and Sue Rowley, said: “Our aim is to give as many people as possible the chance to access these wonderful natural environments.
“We’ve seen our numbers gradually growing, and we’ve found that the more visible our service is on the beaches, the more interest we get from potential new users.
“Having this new all-terrain wheelchair is a brilliant addition to our equipment list.
“We have a great team of dedicated volunteers who give their time to making sure those who want our wheelchairs can get them when they need them.”
Stephen Andrews, manager at Newcastle Building Society’s Whitley Bay branch, said: “We’re very lucky to have such fantastic beaches right on our doorstep, and Beach Access North East’s work towards making make them as accessible as possible is extremely impressive.”