We have recognised that there is a lack of high quality holiday accommodation that is fully accessible to disabled people, denying them, and hence their families or friends from enjoying an inclusive holiday.  We have recently purchased our first holiday home and spent in excess of £50,000 on facilities and equipment to make it fully accessible.  To help fund this project we are undertaking our own DAY to DAY Challenge.

On 30 June 2012 the Chair of our Board of Trustees, Martyn Weller, who is himself disabled, is travelling form our Head Office in Harroagte, Yorkshire to our holiday home in Louth, Lincolnshire in 24hrs on a mobility scooter!

It is 125 miles DAY to DAY so he must average 5.2mph, but his scooter is flat out at just 8mph and he is only permitted to use footpaths, pedestrian routes or minor roads.

Please support Martyn by sponsoring him – you can make a donation on line at http://uk.virginmomeygiving.com/DAYtoDAYChallenge

Follow Martyn’s progress on Twitter @2012DAytoDAY or our Facebook page.

For further details on the Holiday Lodge go to www.disabilityholidaysuk.org.uk

We are getting lots of enquiries about bookings so get in early to make sure that you can enjoy a holiday in the lovely Lincolnshire Wolds in a fully accessible, beautifully furnished, pine lodge.  It really is superb!

We have exhibited there for a number of years and really enjoy the opportunity to tell other local businesses just what it is that we do.

If you are visiting the Business Market do pop along and see us, we are in the Derwent Room on stand D36.

Disability Action Yorkshire is £2,000 better off thanks to the staff, customers and ducks of a Nidderdale shopping outlet!

Disability Action Yorkshire was the chosen charity of the Darley Mill Centre’s annual duck race, which this year saw more than 1,000 yellow, plastic ducks being raced down the stream adjacent to the 17^th century building.

Winning Duck Numbers: 1^st prize 262, 2^nd prize 504, 3^rd prize 54 

 In addition to the main event, there were a number of other activities to keep the customers and visitors entertained, including face painting, necklace making, foot massages and children’s games.

 One of the most popular attractions was a fire engine from nearby Summerbridge Fire Station, where children were able to sit in the cab and pretend to fight a blaze using the engine’s water hose.

 Disability Yorkshire Action Yorkshire Chief Executive Jackie Snape said:  “We are very grateful to the Darley Mill Centre for holding this   event to raise funds which will enable us to develop our services for disabled people.

 The weather could have been a little kinder, but it failed to dampen the spirits of those who attended. I’d like to thank everyone who attended and purchased a duck for making it the financial success it was.”

 Darley Mill Centre owner Ross Leventhal, said: “This is our third annual duck race and the most successful to date. We were delighted to support Disability Action Yorkshire on this occasion and help raise valuable funds for them.

 “It was certainly the weather for ducks; the rain over the last few days ensured the race was a sprint rather than a marathon in terms of speed!”

 The Darley Mill Centre is part of the company which owns and runs the Yorkshire Linen Co and Linen Warehouse chain of shops.

 It is situated on the edge of Harrogate, near Menwith Hill, and one of its most prominent features is its 27ft diameter water wheel, which was recently restored to full working condition.

We will be running the final “FREE” Volunteer Training programme in May/June 2012.

Venue : Disability Action Yorkshire, Unit i4a, Hornbeam Park Oval, Harrogate. HG2 8RB

This training has been funded by the NLDC fund and the final dates for the course are:

30^th May 9.30am to 3.30pm

6^th June 9.30am to 3.30pm

13^th June 9.30am to 3.30pm

20^th June 9.30am to 3.30pm

27^th June 9.30am to 3.30pm

This is a 5 day course and the participants should attend all 5 sessions.

The training is aimed at disabled adults who are looking to volunteering as a viable option to develop employability skills and increase their understanding and perception of the workplace. The course is a sample of the ASDAN accredited “community volunteering qualification” and any learners will be able to undertake the full accredited award at the end of the FREE training if they choose.

Topics covered will include;

What is Volunteering

Finding a volunteer opportunity

Using Volunteering as a career development opportunity

Environmental awareness

Volunteering at events

Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day, delegates will be required to make own provision for lunch.

If you require further information about the course or would like to discuss your needs or reserve a place on the course, please contact me on 01423 855429 or email ange.brockett@da-y.org.uk

The lodge is situated in Louth, Lincolnshire in amazing woodland settings.  Less than a mile from the lodge is the Kenwick Park Hotel with a Health and Beauty Club where guests using the lodge get free use of the pool, sauna, gym and steam room.

The lodge accommodates five people in three bedrooms, two of which have profiling beds.  There is a tracked hoist in the master bedroom and an ensuite wetroom.  The kitchen has a rise and fall hob and sink and every effort has been made to make the lodge fully accessible.  All of the furnishings are of a high quality and it really is a lovely holiday setting

If you can’t wait until the website is ready (we can’t either!) you can get further information by ringing us on 01423 855412 or emailing holiday@da-y.org.uk.  We can give you more information, advise you of when the lodge is available and tell you the cost of your chosen week.

plenty of FREE parking, come and browse our extensive stock……….

Darley Mill Centre Duck Race and Family fun day – buy a Duck for just £1 each winners will receive a cash prize!

1st Prize = £150

2nd Prize = £50

3rd Prize = £25

add your attendance on our event page http://www.facebook.com/events/377248645620919/

To buy a ticket pop into our offices or Furniture showroom at Hornbeam Park Oval