Our Favourite Activities!
The Puffin Pool - Dingwall
The Puffin Pool is a great facility that enables Poppy to swim twice a week. This hydrotherapy pool is perfect for easing Poppy’s joints and helping her muscles loosen up. When she’s in the pool, Poppy loves moving in whatever way feels good for her—it’s a chance for her body to relax and just enjoy the feeling of being in the water.
The Gym
Poppy stays active by attending the gym about once a week to complete her “on the floor” exercises—an important part of her routine for staying fit and maintaining physical health.
Cycling
Cycling is one of Poppy’s favourite ways to stay active—it’s a fun way for her to get some exercise while taking in the beautiful local scenery. Poppy teams up with her sport enabler, and together they cycle through local areas such as The Islands, the canal and North Kessock.
It’s a practical and enjoyable way for her to build strength and stamina at her own pace.
Disability Consultant
Poppy is now planning on developing her volunteering efforts by offering her expertise in building accessibility and inclusivity. She plans to visit and collaborate closely with various organisations and community centres. Her aim is to offer practical advice and creative ideas, helping to identify areas for improvement so that all environments are welcoming and accessible to everyone.
Travel
“I love to travel to new places, I have been lucky enough to visit a variety of countries in my life. My top 3 being Spain (Menorca) Portugal and Italy. When traveling I access Special Assistance which enables us to get through security and onto the plane safely. There’s always the difficulty of disabled transport in different countries however, that never stops us from exploring and managing to find a way around.
A particular holiday that was easy for me and my family to get around was Portugal, as the place we were staying had a mobile hoist and offered disabled transport whenever we needed it.”
Festivals!
“I’m planning on going to various events this year, some in Glasgow and some in Inverness.”
Belladrum
Belladrum Tartan Heart festival is one of the my favourite events of the summer in the Highlands.
Accessible Camping
My family and enablers have the option of camping in the accessible campsite which is a great facility because it means I don’t have far to go to the festival and don’t have to go over difficult terrain.
Changing Places Toilet Facilities
Belladrum has now got access to a great accessible toilet. This facility consists of a hoist, shower, sink, toilet. This is exciting for me as it enables me to go into the festival and not have to go back to the tent.
Charging Points
I have a powered wheelchair which needs charged every night. There is a charging station at the welfare tent which is a short walk from the accessible campsite where my enablers or family can leave and charge my chair all night.
Viewing Platform
I have used the Belladrum disabled platform numerous times over the years and it’s a great way for me to see the acts clearly and in it’s entirety. The only downside to it is you can only get one or two people onto the platform, which means that if I’m with my family we have to split up which is one of the reasons why we don’t always use it.
Trnsmt Festival
Trnsmit is a three day festival that is located in the centre of Glasgow. I have attended this festival twice and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience there!
If you need a PA or companion to support you, the festival will grant you an additional ticket at no extra cost.
Main
In TRNSMT I have thoroughly enjoyed using the disabled platform as it is really big and I can see the acts fully. I use it a lot more than I did at Belladrum because the size of this festival is much bigger. It is very handy that there’s two ramps to access the platform as it means you don’t need to cross the crowd from whatever side you’re, on you can just get up. Another feature that is available on the platform is the charging point, I haven’t used it but it’s a comfort to know it’s there as running out of battery is a worry at a festival.
On the first floor of the platform, there’s a changing room that has a hoist and a plinth. This is great as I didn’t have to move too far from the platform and lose my spot, I could just nip down to the toilet like everyone else does.
King Tuts Stage
I haven’t explored the smaller stage as much as I have the main stage but they have similar facilities which is great as you can just go to see whatever act you want and you’re not restricted by accessibility.
Accessible Routes
The area around the festival stages consist of mostly grass but temporary trackway and hard-standing paths which are fantastic for those with a set of wheels.
Leeds Festival
I have attended Leeds festival once but it was such a great experience I am excited to go to more in the future!
In England they recognise that people sometimes need more than one enabler, so that means that I could take two enablers who each get a “companion” ticket meaning they can access the accessible stage with me
Accessible Viewing Platforms
In Leads they have a fantastic viewing platform at all of the stages. This was a great place for me to see acts in their entirety without having my view blocked. They also have two ramps which means I can access it from both sides. The only down side is it that you’re only allowed two people to accompany you which means if you have more people in your group you have to split up. They also have charging points on the platform which is fantastic, I used those to charge my chair whilst I watched the performances.
Changing Places
In Leeds they had two changing places toilets available in the festival, which is fantastic as it means the queue is not so long and you don’t need to go far to get the next one. As I went with enablers and not my family, it meant they could use the hoist available and didn’t have to drag a mobile hoist into the toilet.
Accessible Entrance Lanes and Train
Leeds had easy access around the festival as they had particular lanes for my wheelchair to go on so I didn’t have to go on the grass. They also had a wheelchair accessible small train that continuously went back and forth from the campsite to the main stage.
Camping Assistance Team (CATS)
The festival had a great team on site at the accessible camping who were there to help everyone with anything needed such as putting up the tent, blowing up airbeds and be on call 24/7.