Leisure, holidays and days out

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Leisure Activities | Holidays | Days Out | Information

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Specially adapted tricycles

People's Pedal Power is an initiative to encourage disabled people and children to start cycling.  The project has adapted tricycles suitable for people with all disabilities.  It is based at Hetton Lyons Country Park and is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.  The cost is £3 per hour and pre-booking is essential.

For more information contact:

People's Pedal Power, 100 Norfolk Street, Sunderland, SR1 1EA

Tel: 0191 567 8107 (Ann Storey or Les Wascoe)

E-mail: leslieg@myway.com

Free films at the cinema!

Does your disabled child enjoy going to the cinema?

This enjoyable outing could now cost you less with The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card.  This is a card which confirms that the holder (your child) is entitled to one free ticket for the person accompanying them to the cinema.  To apply for the card, your child would need to be in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and/or be registered blind. The card is valid for 3 years.

For more information contact:

Tel: 0845 123 1295

Minicom: 0845 123 1297

Fax 0845 123 1296

Website: www.ceacard.co.uk/index.html

The Hive
This is a local community project in Houghton which aims to improve quality of life in the community by working with local people. Leisure activities for children include a crèche, holiday clubs, and holiday activity packs.

For further information contact:

The Hive, 27-29 Queensway, Houghton-le-Spring, DH5 8EL,

Tel: 0191 584 5729

Fax: 0191 512 1828

Strang Riding Centre
Strang offer horse riding for children and adults with physical, learning and sensory disabilities.

For more information contact:

Strang Riding Centre, District 12, Stephenson, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE37 3HR,

Tel: 0191 416 2745.

Soundwaves
Soundwaves create talking newspapers/magazines for people with a visual impairment, including a football magazine.

For more information contact:

Soundwaves, 21 Toronto Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, SR3 4HU,

Tel: 0191 522 6514

E-mail: soundwaves@tesco.net

Actionnaires Club (Multi Sports Club for Blind and Partially Sighted Children)
Actionnaires Clubs allow visually impaired children to experience a range of sport and leisure activities in a safe, structured and fun environment. The Club takes place at the Raich Carter Sports Centre, in Hendon, Sunderland, every second Saturday from 10am until 1pm. Children and young people who are blind or partially sighted can participate in a whole range of activities including Trampolining, Judo, Football, Basketball, Goalball, Athletics, Gym Fitness, Swimming and more. There is no charge for the session and the visually impaired children can bring a friend or sibling along with them. The first 2 hours of the session is dedicated to indoor sports. The last hour of every session is for swimming.

For more information contact:
Lesley Inganni, (Sports Development Officer),

Tel: 01642 233 439 or 07703099354

E-mail: lesley.inganni@actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Durham Area Disability Leisure Group
Durham Area Disability Leisure Group offer leisure activities for disabled people of all ages who live in Durham and surrounding areas. Activities include cycling, trampolining, sports taster sessions and more, and a regular newsletter is produced.

For more information, contact:

Durham Area Disability Leisure Group, Sacriston Leisure Centre, Front Street, Sacriston, DH7 6JT
Tel: 0191 3711266

Fax: 0191 3711266

E-mail: dadlg@ne.communigate.co.uk

Website: www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dadlg/

Equals Youth Theatre
This is a drama group which runs on a Wednesday evening between 4.30pm and 6pm at Portland School, Weymouth Road, Chapelgarth, Sunderland, SR3 2NQ.

For more information contact:

Rowena Gilchrist on (0191) 553 6050

Swimming Club
Come along to the “Sandhill Centre”, Grindon Lane any Saturday 12 noon to 2 pm, for a trial. We will assess your current ability and give a recommendation as to the training group that will best suit your need.

For further information contact :

Yvonne or Alan: 07732541550 (mobile)

E-mail: info@sssc.me.uk

Sunderland Youth Development Group & City Equals
The Youth Development Group’s Inclusion Project provides citywide Youth Provision for young people 13-19 years of age who have physical and/or learning disabilities. The Youth Clubs run sessions on various nights during the week, while two clubs also run Saturday morning sessions. Club members are offered a wide range of activities and are actively encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

During school holidays, in partnership with Services for Disabled Children (Children's Services) and the voluntary sector, the Inclusion Project runs Away Day breaks. This involves activity days and residential experiences, giving disabled young people opportunities to extend their horizons and interests within a safe environment.

City Equals
Sunderland Youth Development Group is committed to working with disabled young people to ensure their active involvement in decisions that affect their lives. One of the ways this is achieved is through City Equals. City Equals is a small group of young disabled people who advocate for other young people, enabling their voice to be heard, understood and responded to within the wider community, by linking into Sunderland Youth Parliament.

The government has published a report of the disabled children's review. Page 24 of the review highlights the work in Sunderland with City Equals. Download a copy of the report here ( 645kb).

Youth Clubs in the city

These clubs are open to young people aged 13-19 years

These clubs are open to young people aged 19-25 years

For more information or to get involved with any of the youth clubs or with City Equals please contact:

Deborah Atkinson
Inclusion Co-ordinator

Tel: (0191) 553 7838

Mobile: 07769637146
E-mail: deborah.atkinson@sunderland.gov.uk

New club for young people!

A new youth club for disabled young people kicks off in Sunderland in September 2006. The club, for young people aged 12 to 25, will meet at the Lambton Street Fellowship Centre from 30 September. Activities include snooker, games and video games in a fully accessible sports area. Outdoor activities and gardening projects are planned. Sessions cost 50p. For more details contact (0191) 567 5227

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HOLIDAYS

When planning a family holiday there are lots of questions you may not be able to find the answers to:
Is the destination accessible?
How can we afford it?
Can we get any assistance with care?
Will people understand our needs?
Will there be things we can do when we get there?

There are a range of organisations and services both locally and nationally who can help with all of these questions and more.

General Information:

Contact a Family: have produced a comprehensive guide to organisations which specialise in holidays for disabled children and their families. To download it visit their website by clicking here: www.cafamily.org.uk

Disability North: provide information to disabled people and their carers about a range of subjects including holidays and leisure.

For more information, contact:

Disability North, Dene Centre, Castle Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1PH.

Tel: 0191 284 0480

Fax: 0191 213 0910

Text Direct: 18001 0191 284 0480

E-mail: reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk

Website: www.disabilitynorth.org.uk

RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation): Produce a guide: Holidays in Britain and Ireland, at a cost of about £8. They also have a series of holiday guides and an information pack with details of accommodation and facilities for disabled holidaymaker's.

For more information, contact:

RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V 8AF.

Tel: 0207 2503222

Minicom: 0207 2504119

Website: www.radar.org.uk

Going abroad? The Tourist Board of the country you wish to visit may produce information about access and facilities for disabled visitors, which you could get from their UK-based offices. You can obtain their phone number from Directory Enquiries, by asking for the National Tourist Office of the country you wish to visit.

Calvert Trust
The Calvert Trust specialise in outdoor holidays for disabled people. They have centres at Kielder, Keswick and Exmoor. At Kielder, there is a fully accessible centre, and ten self catering chalets. Activities are available to complete novices and those with experience. Activities available include abseiling, archery, canoeing, cycling, kayaking, motor cruising and sailing.

For more information, contact:
Calvert Trust Kielder, Kielder Water, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 1BS
Tel: 01434 250232
Fax: 01434 250015
Website: http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/
Email : enquiries@calvert-kielder.com

The Arka Foundation 

The Arka Foundation based in Malta offers a range of services for disabled people and their families, which include:

• The Arka Respite Centre
• Lending of wheelchairs and walking aids
• Meetings for parents and carers
• Social gatherings
• Sunday outings
• Counseling and support services
• Awareness campaign programme

The Arka Respite Centre in Malta

The Centre is run by a professional fully trained team of care workers under a general manager who is responsible to a Board of Directors. Its facilities and services are now available on a twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week basis. Families from around the world can book for a family residential stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

For more information contact:
The Arka Foundation, Triq il-Moghdija, Ghajnsielem, Gozo, Malta.

Tel: (00356) 21565773

Fax:  (00356) 21565774

Arka Foundation Administration: arka@maltanet.net
Arka Respite Centre: respite@maltanet.net

Website: www.os3.com.mt/arka/home.asp

If you have been assessed by Children's Services as needing short breaks, you could apply for a Direct Payment to part fund your trip.   To find out more about Direct Payments click here. The Holiday and Opportunities Fund may also be available to help towards funding your trip. See below for details.

Can we afford it?

Holiday and Opportunities Fund
This is a fund available in Sunderland to help provide breaks for carers where the usual short break schemes are not appropriate or available. Applications can be made to the fund for money towards holidays or days out which will clearly provide parent carers with a break. For example, money could be used to pay for a carer to look after your child while you have a day away, the grant could cover the cost of an extra night’s accommodation which would not otherwise be necessary (e.g. the disabled child can only travel so far in one day), or the child may be unwilling to take a residential break so the only possible break would be to go away together, but to go somewhere where paid support was at hand to ensure the carer really does get a rest. The fund is available to parent carers of children with disabilities as well as to carers who care for other adults. If you feel you could get a rest from caring if only you had the funds to pay for something in particular, contact Sunderland Carer’s Centre for details of how to apply.

For further information contact:

Sunderland Carers' Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland, SR1 2QF
Tel: 0191 567 3232
E-mail: info@sunderlandcarers.co.uk

Holiday Care
This organisation provides information about all types of holidays for people with disabilities and special needs. They also publish ‘A Guide to Financial Help Towards the Cost of a Holiday’.

For further information, contact:

Holiday Care, 7th Floor, Sunley House, 4 Bedford Park, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2AP

Tel: 0845 124 9971

E-mail: info@tourismforall.org.uk

Website: www.holidaycare.org.uk

There are many charitable bodies who may help towards the cost of a holiday. The Holiday Care Guide (above) will contain details of these, as does the Contact a Family Factsheet (above).

How will we get there?

Newcastle Airport has been expanded and refurbished and has many facilities for disabled people.
Ring the airport on 0870 122 1488 with an enquiry about your specific requirements.

Rail travel: your child may be entitled to a disabled person’s rail card, while if the whole family are traveling a family rail card may be more economical. For more information contact the GNER National Enquiry Line: 08457 225225 or Virgin Rail Travel on 08457 222333.

A leaflet called ‘Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers’ is available from stations, travel centres and travel agents and gives details of discounts you may be entitled to. Support for disabled travellers is also available on the platform, by contacting National Rail Enquiries and giving 24 hours notice if possible.

Tel: 08457 484950.

What will we do there?

English Tourist Council
The National Accessible Scheme is a free information pack which has details of tourist attractions that subscribe to the National Code of Practice for Visitor Attractions. This will give details of the types of provision each attraction has made for disabled visitors. To obtain a copy visit your local Tourist Information Centre. This should help when planning days out, for instance to find out whether Legoland will be accessible for your child who uses a wheelchair, or how accessible Alton Towers is for your child who is visually impaired.

The Scottish and Welsh Tourist Boards should also be able to help with similar information.

Scottish Tourist Board: Tel: 0845 225 5121.

Welsh Tourist Board: 08708 300 309.

English Heritage: For a free guide to access and facilities at the English Heritage properties phone 0870 333 1181.

Historic Scotland: For a free guide entitled ‘Access for Disabled Visitors’ telephone 0131 668 8600.

The National Trust: For a free guide to access and facilities at the National Trust properties phone 0870 4584000.

More information about holidays is available in a free book produced by the Department of Health entitled ‘A Practical Guide for Disabled People and Carers’.

To download a copy click here www.dh.gov.uk/publications

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DAYS OUT

Free entry to local leisure attractions

We have arranged for members of the Sunderland Network of Children with Disabilities to receive a 'Max card' for each member of their family. This gives free entry to over 50 different attractions across the North East, including the Washington Wild Fowl Trust, the Ryhope Engine Museum and the Tynemouth Blue Reef Aquarium. This could be a big help in planning activities for your family over the summer holidays.

If you receive your copy of Real Issues by post you are already a member of the Sunderland Network and should by now have received your Max cards. To become a member please phone, e-mail or visit our network page to get an application form. Membership is open to all disabled children or those with additional educational needs in Sunderland. By joining the network you will also help us to gather information on the needs of families in Sunderland to help us with planning services.  

Tel: (0191) 566 2190

E-mail: child.disability@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk

Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
This museum contains artifacts from the North East past, computer interactives, hands-on displays and reconstructions. Facilities include a lift, accessible toilets, facilities for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and blind and partially sighted. It is open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 2pm-5pm and entry is free.

For further information, contact:

Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA.
Tel: 0191 232 6789
Minicom: 0191 232 6789

Website: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery/whatshere.php#header.

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
This complex incorporates a museum which contains interactive hands-on exhibits, an art gallery, the Winter Gardens and Mowbray Park. Facilities include access routes avoiding steps and ramps, a lift, accessible toilets, facilities for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and blind and partially sighted. It is open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 2pm-5pm and entry is free.

For further information contact:

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR1 1PP
Tel: (0191) 553 2323
Minicom: (0191) 553 2323
Fax: (0191) 553 7828

Website: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk .

National Glass Centre
The National Glass Centre is open daily 10am-5pm. Entry is free which gives access to Throwing Stones restaurant, the Mezzanine Gallery, the Glass Gallery, the Glass Roof, and ‘Transformer’ and ‘Shoal’ sculptural exhibits.

Access to The Glass Tour costs £5 for adults, £3 concessions, and £12 for a family ticket. The Tour includes an interactive multimedia, multi-sensory gallery, a guide to the history of glass making, the hot glass studio, and glass workshop. Last entry into the tour is at 4pm.

The National Glass Centre describes itself as accessible to all visitors and every effort is made to cater for specific needs of visitors. The following facilities are freely available:

• Hire of wheelchairs (3 available)
• Braille text (12 manuscripts)
• Lift to lower foyer
• Accessible toilets on both floors
• Braille signage
• Adapted exhibits in the Kaleidoscope Gallery for visually impaired visitors
• Tour guides for visiting groups
• Commentaries of studio glass making demonstrations
• Team of first aiders

For further information contact:

The National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland

Tel: 0191 515 5555
Fax: 0191 515 5556
E-mail: info@nationalglasscentre.com

Website: www.nationalglasscentre.co.uk

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INFORMATION

Radar Key
RADAR (The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) is a national organisation run by and working for disabled people. Their aim is to remove barriers that restrict disabled people's daily lives. Their work covers issues such as civil rights, community care, education, employment, social security, mobility and housing. They publish a range of fact sheets, books and guides, produce a monthly Bulletin, and work with around 500 national and local organisations in the UK. For more information click here www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/.

One initiative supported by RADAR is the provision of accessible public toilets around the UK with locked doors that can all be opened with the same key. Keys are available to the public to buy for a small charge (under £3.00) from South Hylton House, South Hylton Bank, Sunderland, or from Crowtree Leisure Centre in the centre of Sunderland. RADAR also produce a National Guide to Accessible Toilets in Britain, which is for sale by clicking here radar-shop.org.uk/.

To buy a key, download a form by clicking here www.sunderland.gov.uk, 10.3kb , complete the form, and take it to one of the venues above.

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