Together Trust’s Bridge College has been given £50,000 of National Lottery funding by Sport England to encourage students to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each week.

Sport England’s new strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’ puts tackling inactivity at the heart of what they do. As part of this initiative, Sport England is investing £5 million into projects in colleges that will support their inactive students into regular activity

Run by the leading North West charity, Together Trust, the college based in Openshaw, Manchester is non-residential specialist education college for students aged 16 to 25 years with disabilities, complex needs and autism.

The William Merritt Centre are pleased to announce the new name for their annual exhibition is the AccessAbility Exhibition. It will take place on 11th October 2017 at the Centenary Pavilion, Leeds United Football Club between 10.00am and 3.00pm,showcasing new and innovative assistive technology, providing information and advice to enable greater independence for disabled children and adults or those with additional needs.

Following a successful exhibition last year, the name has been updated to reflect the impressive array of equipment, adaptations and advice on offer, encouraging people to come along and see what new innovations are available.

Two pioneering organisations providing vital, tailored services to thousands of vulnerable people have been jointly crowned Home Improvement Agency Service of the Year.

West of England (WE) Care & Repair and Millbrook Healthcare received their awards from Lord Best at a ceremony held at the House of Lords and sponsored by Pro Care, Whale Pumps and Mira Showers.

The annual Home Improvement Agency and Handyperson Award Winners, organised by Foundations, celebrate work by 200 social value driven organisations throughout England that provide adaptations and other services designed to help disabled and older people live independently in their own homes.

Purley Park Trust the charity based in Purley on Thames, near Reading which provides care services to over 80 people in the local community with learning disabilities, has recently starting using Engagement Multiplier to support its strategy of delivering an excellent standard of care to each of these individuals.

Engagement Multiplier is a digital platform and program, which helps care providers to measurably improve the levels of engagement of their staff.  The platform provides senior leaders with valuable insight and clarity around where time, effort and resource should be focused in order to deliver measurable results.     

The South West is full of wonderful heritage places to explore, from caves to historic houses and sweeping landscapes. According to the Papworth Trust, disabled adults in the North and South West report the highest number of life areas (education and leisure) where participation is restricted.  Despite the efforts of museums, galleries and other leisure attractions, feedback from disabled and Deaf people suggests there is more that can be done to make these places more accessible. 

Lamin Manneh, 40, from Manchester, disabled war hero, para-athlete and Invictus Games competitor, is “honoured” to have been appointed as the first Ambassador for the new WHILL powerchair from TGA.

Abacus Healthcare will be demonstrating its popular Gemini power assisted platform bath and offering the chance to win a new ‘Tiny the Turtle’ cuddly toy at Rise 4 Disability. 

 7th September: Rise 4 Disability, Stand C7, Kent Showground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF, 10am - 4pm, free admission.

Creative Support North Lincolnshire joins national campaign day to celebrate supported housing.

Creative Support is highlighting the contribution supported housing makes to North Lincolnshire as part of today's Starts at Home day.

Starts at Home, now in its second year and run by the National Housing Federation, celebrates how this housing helps hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people regain their independence and confidence.

This October, Breast Cancer Now is encouraging workplaces across the UK to dig out their pink glad rags for their flagship fundraiser, wear it pink, on Friday 20 October.

Wear it pink, the UK’s biggest pink fundraiser which takes place during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, calls on employees to ditch their everyday uniforms and workwear and pull on some pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research. 

The fundraising event, back for its 16th year, encourages workers to wear pink on Friday 20 October and make a donation to the charity to help it achieve its aim that by 2050 nobody will die from the disease. 

Introducing the Diversability Card, the official discount card for people with disabilities, providing exclusive and market-leading discounts with the UK’s favourite brands, service and entertainment providers.  

The card has been founded by disability rights campaigner Shani Dhanda, who lives with a rare genetic condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, more commonly known as Brittle Bone Disease, affecting only one in 15,000 people in the UK. With mainstream media throwing out images of unattainable perfection, lacking any social and cultural relevance to ethnic minority communities, raising awareness around disability and diversity is Shani’s passion. 

A military veteran and rifleman from Clevedon, Bristol who suffered extreme and life changing injuries after a motorcycling accident now aims to race at the ‘deadly’ Isle of Man TT in 2023. Chris Ganley, 28, hopes to make history by being the first to race at the TT with only one arm.

During the accident, Chris’ left arm was ripped off and his right arm was broken so badly that the doctors questioned whether to rebuild the arm or to amputate it. He says, “my injuries were horrific. In addition to losing my left arm and coming close to losing my right, I also broke my spine in three places which has left me with nerve damage and weak muscles in my core and back.

“I also suffered a bleed on my brain, broken ribs and popped lung – I’m very lucky to be alive.”

Limbcare and the Disabled Golf Association bring the able bodied and disabled together to launch their inaugural golf day

National charity Limbcare, which supports amputees across the UK, has partnered with the Disabled Golf Association to launch their inaugural Golf Day, to raise funds for both worthwhile causes. It is the first time Limbcare and the Disabled Golf Association have worked collaboratively and the day will bring together the able bodied and the disabled for a day of fun, competition and fundraising.   

Two siblings are celebrating a decade of being in the saddle, thanks to an inspirational riding programme that opened the door to a fantastic new opportunity. 

Accessibility Mark centres are assisting charities to inspire disabled people to participate in new activities, helping them to realise their potential and succeed beyond their perceived limitations.

Riding for the Disabled Association, in partnership with the British Equestrian Federation’s participation programme, launched the revolutionary Accessibility Mark scheme to work with commercial riding centres with the aim of getting more disabled people to participate in riding.

For some this opportunity ignites a passion that leads to more than just attending a riding centre for an occasional group lesson.

Theraposture, the leading specialist for tailor-made adjustable beds, chairs and care cots, will be providing informative demonstrations of its trusted Rotoflex turning bed system and future-proof Mascot cot at Rise 4 Disability.

7th September: Rise 4 Disability, Stand B1, Kent Showground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF, 10am - 4pm, free admission.

If you're looking for an accessible day out in the North of England, you won't find many better regions to visit than County Durham. The area is a treasure trove of activities that are both fun and educational, with plenty to do and see.

To help you plan your trip, we've listed our five favourite accessible attractions in the county, with something to suit everyone. Read on to find out more.

Hall Hill Farm

Who'll love it: Younger visitors and animal lovers.

Hall Hill Farm is a fantastic day out for the whole family, with plenty of animals to pet and feed, as well as a host of activities to take part in.