One of the region’s premier water sport club’s have been boosted by funding to improve their disability access after obtaining local and national help through grants and expertise.
Forum members, Midland Canoe Club(MCC) have been awarded a grant by the National Lottery’s ‘Award for All’ fund which will see money go towards the final phase of making MCC’s club site fully wheelchair-accessible.
Changes will see access from the club gates to the clubhouse (and hence to changing, showers, toilets, etc.), the canoe and kayak storage containers, and the river launching area, where there are additional facilities to assist those with disabilities. The club itself will provide the ‘match funding’ on this project.
The project will complete the surfacing work that was commenced in 2017, by extending the tarmac from the bottom of the wheelchair ramp at the far end of the clubhouse to the club gates, including the car parking areas either side, plus the area between the clubhouse and the old toilet block.
Midland Canoe Club President and Trustee John Chamberlin said “We are delighted that we have been awarded this grant to help make the club more accessible to wheelchair users.
“As a club we want to encourage new members to join us and get involved in Canoe or Kayak sports and this new access will open up opportunities for those that may not have had the opportunity in the past.
“We’ve had some wonderful help in securing this grant and we would like to thank Edwina Archer from Active Derbyshire and Paralympic Gold Medalist Emma Wiggs MBE for their support in obtaining this funding.”
To any perspective new members looking to get involved in Canoe or Kayak Sports, head to www.midlandcanoeclub.com
