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Pull-out stuns Baywatch
THE BAYWATCH Awards, whose launch last year proved so successful in rewarding good practice in supermarket parking for disabled people, have been cancelled for 2005.
In a surprising last-minute decision, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons decided not to participate, leaving the campaign with little choice but to suspend the Awards.
The news of the withdrawal reached the campaign organisers at the same time as a highly successful meeting at the Palace of Westminster, designed to encourage more retailers to join the Baywatch partnership, hosted by Liberal Democrat Disability Spokesman Paul Holmes MP.
Ed Passant, Chief Executive of the DDMC, commented: “We decided that a competition missing two of the major chains was not sustainable, and the reputation and financial risks were too high to try and do anything at this late stage.
“We’re profoundly disappointed that both Sainsbury’s and Morrisons came to us so late in the day to inform us that they weren’t participating, meaning that we didn’t have time to try and develop any potential alternatives. They had both been fully involved in the planning
of awards and we had no hint of this decision.”
In a letter to Baywatch, Justin King, Sainsbury’s Group Chief Executive, said:“Although we remain committed to the principles of the Baywatch Campaign we have taken the decision not to enter the Baywatch Awards this year. We announced our review of the business on
October 19th 2004 and have a number of key issues where our priorities must lie.
“In addition, we already have a number of planned improvements underway to improve our performance in the awards and we, therefore, feel it is more important to focus our efforts on
implementing these improvements as an immediate priority.”
He added that he “looked forward to entering the awards in future years”.
Morrisons spokesman David Wilson said Morrisons did not allow stores to have leafl ets in and that it was not their policy to make a financial contribution to support the awards.
Ed Passant argues that, although the news is a blow, Baywatch will go from strength to strength. “We remain committed to the idea of rewarding good practice in the Baywatch Awards as well as highlighting the failings in the annual Baywatch survey. The catastrophic
timing of the withdrawal of key players meant that we couldn’t structure the awards in a different way – but we’ll be back in 2006 with a bigger and better event.”
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Motability adaptations create ‘one-stop-shop’
MOTABILITY is now offering a range of the most popular adaptations, such as steering wheel aids, on its quarterly price lists. Customers can select their chosen adaptations via their Motability dealer at the same time as ordering a new vehicle.
Launched as a new section in the Motability pricing guide, released on April 1, the adaptation prices will apply nationwide for all cars supplied on the Motability contract hire scheme. They include push/pull hand controls, steering wheel aids and easy release handbrake devices. Motability plans to extend the range over the next few months to include other popular adaptations.
Customers can choose from a range of Motability accredited manufacturers throughout the UK to supply their adaptations and can also select from over 60 Motability accredited installers to carry out the fitting. Adaptations will be installed before the new car is delivered so that it is ready for use immediately.
The Motability specialist at the dealership completes the ordering process and to ease end of contract car changeovers, vehicles can be returned at the end of the contract still complete with the adaptations, while more expensive and reusable adaptations can be transferred to the customer's new car.
The prices available in the guide include installation of chosen adaptations, maintenance where required and loss and damage protection equivalent to comprehensive insurance. Motability customers who need more assistance can have a personal assessment at a mobility centre, receive information from specialist
organisations such as Ricability, or contact a Motability Accredited Manufacturer or Installer.
Steve Grossman, Conversions and Adaptations Manager at Motability Operations said: “Offering adaptations in the price guide is a major step in expanding our services to customers. We trust that this one-stop-shop approach for car and adaptations will deliver additional support and peace of mind for many of our customers who require additional modification to their vehicles.”
Meanwhile, Motability has told customers who have a Rover car on the scheme that there will be no impact to their Motability service.
“Motability would like to reassure all customers that they will continue to be supported as normal despite the news from MG Rover that the company has gone into administration. Customers part-way through a lease with a Rover car will be unaffected and will receive the same servicing, maintenance, repairs under warranty, and RAC roadside assistance benefits offered by Motability for the reminder of their lease.
“There is no change to the service offered by Motability Operations to Motability customers who are currently leasing a Rover car. There will be no financial impact to customers who currently have a Rover car on the Motability Scheme.”
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New Act a hailed as a ‘major advance in rights’
THE new Disability Discrimination Act, which has just received Royal Assent, has
been welcomed as a major piece of civil rights legislation.
It includes new rights for disabled people using transport and better protection for mental health service users, people with HIV, MS and cancer.
It also contains new rights for disabled people wanting to adapt rented property. Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, Bert Massie, said: “The Act is a major advance in civil rights and a substantial step forward in ending the discrimination disabled people experience.”
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Forum’s Freefone
The Forum of Mobility Centres' national phone number has changed to a Freefone number, 0800 559 3636.
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Bay atlas number
READERS without internet access wanting to find out more about the London disabled bay atlas featured in April's Disabled Motorist can call the publisher, PIE Enterprises, on 020 7324 6276.
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FRASER Bathgate, said to be the world's first paraplegic scuba diving instructor, helps to open a world of possibilities for other disabled people by diving into a shark-infested tank at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire (above).
Fraser, an ambassador for Sunrise Medical, dived in the aquarium's Caribbean tank to asses the facility's suitability for disabled people.
Fraser qualified as a certified diving instructor after discovering he“weightlessness” of being submerged in water. He is now one of the world's experts on disabled diving and outdoor access for wheelchair users.
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Test drive the latest models
THIS YEAR'S Mobility Roadshow again offers the chance to drive some of the
latest adapted cars – including Chevrolet, Citroën, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz,
Nissan, Saab, smart, Suzuki, Toyota and Vauxhall – as well as enjoying all the fun, excitement and interest of the whole experience.
The roadshow is again at Donington Park in the Midlands and this year runs slightly later in the summer, from July 7-9.
It is billed as the only exhibition where you can try out adapted cars and seek
advice on a wide range of adaptations and conversions for your needs.
Elsewhere, on a separate section of the Donington Park circuit, disabled teenagers are being offered the chance to take their first driving lesson. The“BSM Corsa Challenge” is a great way for anyone aged 15-plus to find out more about learning to drive. To jump-start enthusiasm, participants also take away a voucher for a free driving lesson with BSM. For show visitors looking for excitement, the “Infield Action Arena” will offer “an exciting selection of offroad passenger experiences”.
These include Range Rover 4x4 fun with Off-Road UK, quad biking from QuadTech, Woodstar Buggy Trials from Xtreme Disabled Motorsport and the chance to taste life as a rally co-driver with ParaRallying.
Young people with disabilities will be a major focus of this year's Roadshow as it will be celebrating National Young Disabled Persons' Day on the first day of the show.
There will be lots of fun activities and services available for children and young
people, including, from Dragon Mobility, the latest elevating powerchair; on the
Tomcat stand the UK`s lightest special needs trike and, from Racketys Ltd, a
range of clothing designed especially for children with disabilities.
The winner of the Ready, Willing and Mobile competition will be announced on the first day, with guest of honour Tanni Grey-Thompson.
For more information, see the roadshow website at www.mobilityroadshow.
co.uk or call 0870 770 3222.
■Tanni Grey-Thompson will also be at Mobility South, the show being organised at Newbury Racecourse by Gowrings Mobility on May 6-7. She will be announcing the winner of Gowrings Mobility's Seize the Day competition and giving away a new Gowrings Mobility Zafira and a Sunrise Medical power chair. Call 0845 608 807 for information.
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Braving the Arctic with Judy
Iain Sears, a student who works for specialist disabled motorist insurer Chartwell during vacations, has just returned from an icy, fundraising challenge . . .
Last month, I was fortunate enough to embark upon a once-in-a-lifetime
excursion. In association with the Disabled Living Foundation, I set out on a fund-raising Arctic dog sledding challenge. Alongside an equally novice team of five, we set out to the northern extremities of Norway, a region known as Finmark, to help Judy Woolfenden, the first disabled person to have undertaken such a challenge.
Doctors told Judy she would be fortunate to live beyond her 30s due to a number of complications, including osteoporosis.
Now 56, Judy has proved the experts wrong several times over and has spent the past 15 years raising awareness and funds for the Disabled Living Foundation and other charities.
Our target, which we all achieved alongside Judy, was to cover 250km by dog sledding in five days. The route began 120 miles North of the Arctic Circle and ended more than 200 miles within it, each of us commanding our own sleds and the four huskies that pulled it. With a comprehensive, if not brief, introduction to sledding, we set out under the reassuring supervision of our expert guide into the unknown.
Travelling across barren snow-laden plains and frozen lakes, through forests and traditional Sami villages, the route encapsulated every variation possible of
this beautiful and breathtaking land.
The weather proved milder than the possible -20C or so we had braced ourselves
for – a trend apparently becoming all too familiar to the locals. On one occasion temperatures did encroach upon about -15C, which gave us all a reminder of where we were.
Judy's remarkable physical and mental resolution was an inspiration; her
individual accomplishment a marvellous exhibition of what can be achieved, despite medical and physical hindrance. Through sponsorship and contributions, this trip is hoping to raise several thousand pounds for the Disabled Living Foundation, along with a substantial donation to a multiple sclerosis charity from myself in association with my sponsors, Chartwell Insurance and Disabled Drivers' Bureau.
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