Kent - Countryside Opportunities for Everyone

Stuart McLeod, Senior Access Development Officer, Kent County Council

You may have heard talk about the Countryside Agency's Diversity Review. In their own words, the Review will be "investigating what can be done to support the participation in outdoor recreation of disabled people, black and minority ethnic people, people who live in inner city areas, and young people."

Here at Kent County Council, we have been awarded a three-year action research contract in partnership with Kent Information Federation (an information service for disabled people) to address the disability element of the Review.

The "By All Means" project comprises an ambitious collection of activities which we hope will demonstrate a sustained increase in the level of disabled people visiting the Kent countryside. To begin with we are gathering comprehensive baseline data about visits and service provision. Why are disabled people visiting Kent's countryside? Where do they go? What prevents trips to the countryside? What are the county's countryside service providers offering disabled people?

As well as focusing upon disabled people themselves and those that provide countryside services or facilitate activities, the project also aims to work closely with care managers, personal assistants, family and friends of disabled people, day centre staff etc, i.e. those individuals who may also be a vital part of the equation in determining whether or not disabled people are able to access the countryside.

By All Means comprises eight projects in total which are to be carefully monitored and evaluated throughout their duration. Here's a brief overview of some of the key projects:

Ask the experts - Shorne Wood Country Park

Objective

'Assess the extent to which the involvement of disabled people in the stages of project design and implementation, has a positive influence upon the end product both in terms of accessibility and widespread participation by disabled people'.

An advisory and consultative group, focused upon disabled access, has been formed to support the Project. The group are being consulted on all stages of project development, particularly to influence the new access infrastructure, information and interpretation, and building design.

Objective

'Assess the impact of providing an all terrain mobility scooter in a country park, supported by a targeted programme of outreach and personal development with participants'.

An all terrain mobility vehicle ("Tramper") has been acquired to offer access to the whole of the park's path network. A programme of outreach and development with people with mobility impairments will be conducted to record changes in personal satisfaction and participation as a result of accessing the countryside with the Tramper.

Meeting up, getting out

Objectives

1. Initiate dialogue between countryside service providers and disabled people and care providers/enablers to influence: a) the quality of provision for disabled people; b) the appeal of the countryside as a leisure destination for disabled people and care providers/enablers.

2. Explore how the active inclusion of disabled people in countryside recreational processes impacts upon the attitudes, values, beliefs and service delivery patterns of other service providers.

We will be facilitating a series of meetings and taster days at selected countryside venues both to introduce the kinds of activities available at the sites, and also to provide an opportunity for all participants to gain an understanding of one another's perceptions, interests, personal and organisational constraints etc.

Specific programmes of awareness raising and development are also being devised for countryside service providers and care providers/enablers. The development of participants will be carefully monitored at stages throughout the process.

Life skills (outdoor pursuits/conservation/camping)

Objectives

1. Enable people with a learning disability and their carers/enablers/supporters to experience the countryside for outdoor pursuits.

2. Build confidence in using the countryside for leisure opportunities and raise awareness of countryside opportunities.

3. Build on people’s independent living skills.

4. Establish partnerships between countryside providers, people with a learning disability and their enablers.

5. Encourage participation in mainstream countryside activities.

This project will provide people with a learning disability the opportunity to access the countryside to participate in a range of leisure pursuits, practical conservation and an overnight camp.

In parallel to the research project, we are also about to launch a new web site - Explore Kent - featuring interactive mapping. We believe the site will make significant steps towards encouraging more inclusive access to the County's trails and greenspaces by providing detailed, objective information about the services and facilities available. For example, a new searchable database of nearly 80 of the County's greenspaces informs the visitor about the accessibility of car parks, toilets, visitor centres and cafés and the frequency of stiles, steps, gates and rest places. There are also details about the formats in which information and interpretation is provided, and what support may be available to disabled people at events.

The web site also provides comprehensive information about Kent's Public Rights of Way network. We have a team of three surveyors conducting a detailed condition survey of the network, providing us with management information and also feeding into the web site. So far we've audited 45% of our 4,300 miles of PROW. Once the survey is complete, visitors to the web site will be able to view any individual Right of Way and find out what its surface is like, if there are any stiles, bridges etc, and the steepness of gradients and cross slopes.

Whilst our web site developers have closely adhered to the RNIB's "See it Right" guidelines for accessibility, a significant challenge we must address is how we can make the interactive mapping element more accessible to visually impaired users. We are very keen to hear from anyone who has experience in this regard.

The website is scheduled to be launched in May 2005.

For more information:

By All Means - Belinda Davis, Project Co-ordinator
belinda@kif.org.uk
Tel: 01474 364413 / 07910 345270

Diversity Review - www.countryside.gov.uk/WiderWelcome/DiversityReview

Explore Kent & Kent County Council's Rights of Way survey - Stuart McLeod stuart.mcleod@kent.gov.uk.
Tel: 01622 221358 / 07740 185237

| Latest Newsletter | Articles A-Z | Articles by subject |