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Holidays and leisure

The range of possibilities for relaxation is very broad. This section gives you a taste of the varied options available and points out where you can find out more. See 'Helpful organisations' for the full addresses of the organisations mentioned in this section.

Holidays

The question of access is a key factor.You may want to feel confident about access to the accommodation, to the attractions you want to see and leisure facilities you wish to use before thinking about anything else. Or you might put type, destination and price of holiday first, and then look at the issue of access.

Should you opt for group holidays tailored for disabled people? These can save you the time and trouble of organising things for yourself and you are usually guaranteed access and assistance. But you might get less choice.And you might not always want to be with a group of disabled people.

Before deciding, you need to have as much relevant, up-to-date information as possible.Tourist attractions that subscribe to the English Tourist Council's National Code of Practice for Visitor Attractions will have considered the requirements of disabled people with special needs and made suitable provision where it applies.

Reference point: You can find more information in The National Accessible Scheme. For this free information pack, contact the English Tourist Council (ETC; formerly the English Tourist Board).
Accessible Britain. Also available from ETC Fulfilment Centre.
Tel: (020) 8563 3000 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00).

In Scotland, attractions that are accessible or have some accessible facilities (such as car parking, toilets, eating places, shops, on-site transport), may display one of three wheelchair symbols.These correspond to the three categories of accessibility (see below).

National Accessible Standard

There is a National Accessible Standard for tourist accommodation denoting three categories of accessibility:

  • Category 1 accommodation is likely to meet the needs of all wheelchair users, including those travelling independently.
  • Category 2 accommodation is likely to meet the needs of wheelchair users accompanied by a capable helper.
  • Category 3 accommodation is likely to meet the needs of those who can walk short distances and climb a maximum of three steps. It may not be suitable for wheelchair users.

For more information, check the English Tourism Council's website: www.englishtourism.org.uk

Holiday Care Service

This service is the UK's central source of travel and holiday information for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities, older people, carers, one-parent families, and those on low incomes.The computerised database holds information on all aspects of holidays and travel in this country and overseas.

Holiday Care Service works within the framework of the Tourism For All campaign for mainstream tourism environments that are accessible to all regardless of age or disability.

Holiday Care Service 'Friends Scheme' gives members (who donate £15 a year) exclusive access to the Reservations Service to book accessible accommodation throughout the country, often at discounted rates.

Action point: Phone or write with your enquiry to: 7th Floor, Sunly House, 4 Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP.
Enquiries: 0845 1249971;
Textphone: 0845 1249976;
Reservations: 0845 1249973;
For business information: 0845 1249974;
Website: www.holidaycare.org.uk.

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Tourist boards

The British Isles

The national and regional tourist boards all publish lists of accommodation that are graded using the National Accessible Standard for tourist accommodation.Tourist board numbers, and any guides they produce specifically for disabled people, are listed below.

English Tourist Council's information on accommodation is handled by Holiday Care Service (see above).
Enquiries: 0845 1249971;
Textphone: 0845 1249976.

Cumbria Tourist Board.
Tel: (01539) 444444.

East of England Tourist Board.
Tel: (01473) 822922.

Heart of England Tourist Board.
Tel: (01905) 763436.

London Tourist Board and Convention Bureau.
Tel: (020) 7932 2020.

Northumbria Tourist Board.
Tel: (0191) 375 3000.

North West Tourist Board.
Tel: (01942) 821222.

South East England Tourist Board.
Tel: (01892) 540766.

Southern Tourist Board.
Tel: (023) 8062 5400.

South West Tourist Board.
Tel: 0870 4420830.

Yorkshire Tourist Board.
Tel: (01904) 707961.

Reference point: You can find more information in The National Accessible Scheme. For this free information pack, contact the English Tourist Council (ETC).
Accessible Britain.
 Also available from ETC Fulfilment Centre.
Tel: (020) 8563 3000 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00).

Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Tel: (028) 9023 1221.
Reference point: Accessible Accommodation in Northern Ireland.
Available from Belfast Welcome Centre.Tel: (028) 9024 6609.

Scottish Tourist Board.
Tel: (0131) 332 2433.

Wales Tourist Board.
Tel: (029) 2047 5226.
Reference point: The guide A View of Wales contains some information on accessibility, as do leaflets on specific areas of the country.

Abroad

 Some national tourist boards produce information about access and facilities for disabled visitors which is available through their offices in the UK.Their offices are listed in the London phone book or you can obtain them through Directory Enquiries.

Other sources of information

The Education and Training Group within the British Council provides advice on all forms of educational visits and exchanges. It also publishes a range of guidebooks on volunteer work,working holidays, home stays and exchanges for people of all abilities.
Enquiries: (0161) 957 7755/7762;
Switchboard: (020) 7389 4004.

English Heritage produces Access Guide:Welcoming Visitors with Disabilities to English Heritage Properties. It contains details of access and facilities at properties.Available free of charge in standard, large print, Braille, disk and cassette versions.
Tel: 0870 3331181;
Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Historic Scotland produces a guide Historic Scotland:Access For Disabled Visitors. Available from Historic Scotland.
Tel: (0131) 668 8600;
Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.

Mencap's Holiday Service provides advice and information on all aspects of holidays.
Tel: (0161) 888 1200.

National Trust (NT) publishes a free booklet Information for Visitors with Disabilities containing details of all their properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with access and other facilities for disabled visitors. It includes a list of sites where blind or disabled people can enjoy historic objects through touch. Large print and tape versions available. Free with self-addressed label and first class stamp from National Trust, Membership Dept, PO Box 39, Bromley,Kent BR1 3XL.
Tel: 0870 4584000;
Textphone: 0870 2403207 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.30,weekends & bank holidays 9.00-16.00).
Necessary carers with disabled people are admitted free to NT properties.The NT website (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) contains a special feature for use by people with serious sight loss and has a section for disabled visitors.

The Passport Agency services include form-filling and Braille translations of forms. Regional offices all have staff who can sign, and all have wheelchair access and induction loops. (See 'Helpful organisations' for addresses of regional passport offices.)
Advice line: 0870 5210410;
Textphone: 0870 2408090;
Website: www.passport.gov.uk.

Youth Hostels Association (YHA) welcomes people with disabilities and has a number of hostels accessible to wheelchair users.
Tel: 0870 7708868;
Website:www.yha.org.uk.

Voluntary organisations provide specialist information for holidaymakers with particular disabilities. It is well worth getting in touch with the relevant one when you make your plans.They include Action for Blind People,Arthritis Care, British Diabetic Association, British Kidney Patient Association, British Polio Fellowship, British Red Cross, Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Adventure Group), John Grooms Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society, RAD (Royal Association in Aid of Deaf People), RNIB,Royal Mencap Society, Sense, Spinal Injuries Association,Winged Fellowship.

Reference point: Holidays in Britain and Ireland - A Guide for Disabled People. Available from RADAR.
Tel: (020) 7250 3222;
Textphone: (020) 7250 4119;
Website: www.radar.org.uk.

Help with holidays and respite care

Social services departments may assist disabled people with the cost of a holiday and may provide transport and facilities.Your social worker may also apply on behalf of families with children to the Family Holiday Association for holiday funding.
Tel: (020) 7436 3304;
Website: www.fhaonline.org.uk.

Family Fund Trust can also give grants for holidays for severely disabled children. (See 'For disabled children' in the section 'Help with particular needs'.)
Helpline: 0845 1304542 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00);
Website: www.familyfundtrust.org.uk.

Handicapped Aid Trust contributes to the cost of helpers of severely disabled people over the age of 17 who would otherwise not be able to afford to go on a holiday abroad.
Tel/fax: (01253) 796441.

Vitalise (formerly Winged Fellowship) provides respite for carers and holidays for people with severe physical disabilities, at five fully adapted centres in the UK and abroad. Free brochure and help with funding available.
Tel: (020) 7833 2594 (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00);
Website: www.vitalise.org.uk

Leisure

If you want to enjoy what's on in your local area, many local editions of the phone book have a section at the beginning called 'Arts Access'. It lists cinemas, theatres, natural history attractions, exhibitions,museums and galleries, sports and leisure venues and assistance organisations.These are keyed in according to entrance accessibility, special WC, induction loop/infra red, wheelchair accessibility and loan, lift and hoist (at pool), lift, accessible bar/restaurant, help available, disabled car parking and wheelchair spaces. For other places, telephone in advance.

It is worth contacting your local authority social services department or leisure department to see what activities they provide. Many council swimming pools and sports centres have facilities and instruction for disabled people.Your library may have a list of active special groups locally.

A wide variety of groups dedicated to disabled people, many with active local branches, exist to develop or follow-up particular interests or sports. Some of these areas are described below.

The arts

Arts Council of England can offer contact details of organisations involved in arts and disability issues.
Tel: (020) 7973 6517;
Textphone: (020) 7973 6564;
Website: www.artscouncil.org.uk.

Artsline is a free information and advice service for disabled people on arts and entertainment in London.
Tel/textphone: (020) 7388 2227;
Fax: (020) 7383 2653.

The Good Gallery Guide is a website highlighting art galleries that are addressing the issue of equal access to the arts. Each gallery mentioned has been visited by a disabled person, giving a personal view of the facilities.
Website: www.goodgalleryguide.com.

Shape opens up access to the arts, enabling greater participation by disabled and older people. It runs arts workshops, projects and events in a variety of settings. It also organises NVQ, Certificate and Diploma level arts management courses, short training courses and placements for disabled people, plus STAN, a network of young disabled artists.There is a National Deaf Arts Programme and a scheme for reduced price tickets for disabled and older people.
Tel: (020) 7619 6160;
Textphone: (020) 7619 6161;
Website: www.shapearts.org.uk.

Arts Council of Wales will give you information about arts organisations throughout Wales that offer disabled people opportunities to participate.
Tel: (029) 2037 6500;
Textphone: (029) 2039 0027;
Website: www.artswales.org.uk.

Arts Disability Wales is a voluntary organisation offering information and training to disabled people and arts organisations.
Tel/textphone: (029) 2055 1040;
Website: www.artsdisabilitywales.com.

Scottish Arts Council provides information about organisations in Scotland that promote the involvement of disabled people in the arts.
Information line: 0845 6036000;
Website: www.scottisharts.org.uk.

Gardening

THRIVE (formerly Horticultural Therapy) provides training courses, advice and publications on gardening as therapy for people with learning disabilities and help for blind gardeners. The aim is to use gardens to improve the quality of life for people with special needs of all kinds.
Tel: (01189) 988 5688;
Website: www.thrive.org.uk.

Sport

The following organisations are all recognised by the Sports Councils as the co-ordinating bodies for sports for all those with a disability.

British Blind Sport (BBS).
Tel: 0870 0789000;
Website: www.britishblindsport.org.uk.

British Deaf Sports Council (BDSC).
Tel/textphone: (0161) 273 3415;
Website: www.britishdeafsportscouncil.org.uk.

British Paralympic Association (BPA).
Tel: (020) 7662 8882;
Website: www.paralympics.org.uk.

British Wheelchair Sports Foundation (BWSF).
Tel: (01296) 395995;
Website: www.wheelpower.org.uk

Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP).
Tel: (0115) 982 5352;
Website: www.cpsport.org.

Disability Sport England (DSE).
Tel: (020) 8801 4466;
Website: www.disabilitysport.co.uk.

Kidsactive (formerly HAPA)
This charitable organisation specialises in adventure play for disabled children.
Tel: (020) 7736 4443;
Website: www.kids-online.org.uk

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is recognised by the Scottish Sports Council as the main body for sport in Scotland for people with disabilities.
Tel: (01592) 415700;
Website: www.scottishdisabilitysport.com

Sports Council for Wales.
Tel: (029) 2030 0500;
Website: www.sports-council-wales.co.uk

Federation of Sports Associations for the Disabled (FSAD) is recognised by the Sports Council for Wales as the umbrella governing body.
Tel: (029) 2030 0500.

United Kingdom Sports Association for People with a Learning Disability (UKSAPLD).
Tel: 0870 7702464 (Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00);
Email: office@uksapld.freeserve.co.uk.

The following organisations provide sports and leisure services, facilities or information for members with a disability: British Epilepsy Association, Riding for the Disabled Association, RNIB, Royal Mencap Society, Phab, Guide Association, Scout Association, SCOPE.

Ability UK has a leisure centre in London.
Tel: (020) 7724 0473.

Reference point:
Directory for Disabled People contains details and addresses for many organisations in the arts, sports and leisure (see page 21 for where to get a copy of this publication).
Outdoor Adventure for Handicapped People by Mike Cotton, Souvenir Press.Available from Bookpoint Ltd. Tel: (01235) 400400.

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