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THE LADY TAVERNERS PRESENT WHEELCHAIRS TO P.O.P.S.Y 25-Feb-2011
A support group set up to help the parents of children with sight problems and special needs received two specially designed beach wheelchairs form The Lady Taverners Wales Region earlier in the year.
P.O.P.S.Y. (Parents of Partially Sighted and Blind Youngsters) supports parents and carers of children with sight problems and special needs. P.O.P.S.Y. director Dr Tymandra Blewett-Silcock and daughter Arwen Poppy were presented the wheelchairs, which cost £4,185.12, in Saundersfoot in September by Taverners Gill Holloman and Liz Stokes.
P.O.P.S.Y. was set up in 2003 by Tymandra and husband Craig, from Machen near Caerphilly, after Arwen Poppy was born with cataracts in 2002.
Tymandra explains: “We offer families who have their lives turned upside down when their child is born with sight problems reassurance that the outlook can be positive, and offer some idea of what they may face in the future.
"Small children, teenagers and adults are all now able to use the beach wheelchairs to access the beach like anyone else which is wonderful. Things we all take for granted are now possible thanks to the Lord and Lady Taverners. It makes a seaside holiday inclusive, empowering and fun.
“Thank you from everyone that will now be able to explore an environment that normally excludes a wheelchair - it really has changed our lives.”
Chairman of The Lady Taverners, Jo Prosser, said: “It was a privilege to donate the wheelchairs to P.O.P.S.Y., which is just one of the many presentations the Lady Taverners has done throughout the year. I understand the beach chairs will be available for hire through the local tourist information centre and will make access to the beach for the disabled and disadvantaged much more fun.”
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THE LADY TAVERNERS PRESENT BEACH WHEELCHAIRS TO POPSY 24-Sep-2010
Two new children’s beach wheelchairs have been added to the fleet at the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) at Saundersfoot Harbour.
The modern and innovative wheelchairs have been donated to the TIC by Welsh charity, Parents of Partially Sighted and Blind Youngsters (POPSY), with funding from the Lady Taverners Wales Region.
They have been designed and manufactured locally by NGA Engineering, based in Steynton, and have been designed to meet the child’s needs and to make the child feel comfortable.
The two original adult sized beach wheelchairs, which were donated by the Pembrokeshire Access Group in 2006, are extensively used by visitors and local people.
These two children’s chairs will help make Saundersfoot beach accessible to even more disabled people.
“We are delighted to accept these two new chairs at the Saundersfoot TIC and wish to thank POPSY for making them available to visitors to the county,” said Clr. Huw George.
“Our beach wheelchairs are also used by local schools for outings to the beach, farm trips and so on. They allow disabled pupils to participate with their classmates on an equal basis.
“These two new chairs will help increase the amount of pupils who will now be able to be included in such visits.”
Access officer Alan Hunt said: “Pembrokeshire County Council is committed to improving its facilities so as to make our services more accessible to disabled people.
“The beach wheelchairs certainly open up our beaches to everyone, including children and older people.”
Anyone interested in hiring a beach wheelchair should contact Saundersfoot TIC on 01834 813672 or alternatively contact POPSY on www.popsy.org.uk
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