OLYMPIC EFFORT TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR SANDOWN BEACH

Paralympic Gold Medallist Andy Cassell and Olympian Richard Jefferies helped launch Sandown Town Council’s new beach accessibility project. The project includes a new Changing Places facility, accessible beach mat, and a programme of activity utilising the amenity and inclusive equipment. Changing Places is a national scheme, with the facility including hoist, changing bench, grab rails, screen and adjustable sink and is located near the publicly accessible toilets at Eastern Gardens with the 50 metre beach mat nearby. The scheme will work with the Wave Project and our lifeguards service to include accessible children and adult wheelchairs. Sandown Town Mayor, Alex Lightfoot, said:

‘‘Working with the IW Council, we have been able to secure national grant funding to support this £100,000+ accessibility project, and would like to thank  Andy and Richard, with our partner agencies, for launching this initiative, benefitting residents and tourists alike.”

Ramon Van de Velde, Chief Executive Officer of The Wave Project, added:

“At The Wave Project, we’re dedicated to making surfing and Surf Therapy as accessible as possible for everyone. The new Changing Place facility in Sandown is a game-changer for our Adaptive Surfing programmes and the wider community. This initiative, along with the beach matting, will massively support our efforts to get more people on the beach and in the water, regardless of their abilities.”

The presentation also included the award of a Gold Standard Hygiene Award to Sandown Town Council, in partnership with Danfo, for the maintenance of their public amenities in Sandown, new adaptive equipment as part of a Wave’s surf therapy programme, and the extension of accessible initiatives from Sandown Lifeguards.

Andy Cassell and Richard Jefferies added:

“The initiative will enable disabled and non-disabled individuals, and their families, to access all the fun and enjoyment the sea offers, with lifeguards providing safe and sensitive support, with Sandown setting a Gold Standard.”

Alex concluded:

“This a major moment in a journey of continuous improvement, with plans for Yaverland Toilets, Sandham Grounds and Information Panels in the pipeline, many of which are also supported with grant funding. A huge thank you to everyone involved in such a brilliant project.”

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