Accessing the Community

Below you will find details of a range of different schemes to help you access your community.

There are a number of useful websites which will help you to work out if a place you'd like to visit is going to be accessible to you; this includes shops, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, countryside spaces and more:

• AccessAble – thousands of venues across the UK and Ireland
• Silver Travel Advisor – travel reviews and advice for the over 50's
• Visit Lincoln – accessible things to do in Lincoln
• Accessible Countryside – promoting accessibility to leisure and sport
• Lincolnshire Tourist Information – tourist attractions in England with brief disabled access details

Changing Places accessible toilets

Changing Places work with organisations to provide accessible toilets on behalf of people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. Changing Places toilets are intended for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and carers, as well as for people who are living with physical conditions and disabilities which means standard accessible toilets do not meet your needs.

There are two groups of Changing Places toilets:

• The first group are ‘accredited toilets’, which have met the standards for room size, accessible design and appropriate equipment
• The second group are toilets which have met 75% of the standards. The toilets are not called Changing Places, but are included on the Changing Places website

You can find out more about the scheme on the Changing Places website.

The number of Changing Toilets are increasing in Lincolnshire, most recently in Boston, to find their locations please visit Changing Places Toilets.

The Great British Public Toilet Map

The public toilet map pinpoints toilets which can be used by members of the public in the area you are planning to visit. You can see details of the toilet’s location, opening times, fees and facilities by clicking on the pinpoint of the toilet you want to know about.

National Key Scheme

The National Key Scheme (NKS), sometimes known as the RADAR Scheme, aims to provide key holders with independent access to locked accessible toilets and avoids the person having to ask for the key. The scheme is managed by Disability Rights UK.

As well as public convenience toilets, toilets for disabled people provided by a wide range of other public, voluntary and commercial organisations have been fitted with the NKS lock. This means you can now use an NKS key in shopping centres, country parks, railway and bus stations, bars, motorway service areas and sports venues.

You can find out more about the scheme and purchase a RADAR key on the Disability Rights UK website.

Beach wheelchairs are specially adapted wheelchairs with larger wheels which allow people to access the beach and the water. The chairs are often available to hire by the day with charges and deposits varying. You can usually leave your wheelchair behind with the hire company. The chairs are not self-propelling, so you will need someone to push you.

Cleethorpes

Beach wheelchairs can be hired for free (own chair left as deposit, safely stored) between: 09:30hrs to 15:30hrs October to March 31st and 09:30hrs to 17:30hrs April to September 31st.

Address: The Resort Hub on Central Prom, Cleethorpes, opposite the Pier/Papa’s Fish and Chips - DN35 8SE

Telephone: 01472 323356

Ingoldmells

Beach Ability Ingoldmells - Beach wheelchairs are available to hire from April to November. Hire is free with a refundable deposit (£40).

Address: Promenade, Anchor Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, PE25 1LJ

For more details and availability, contact via the Ingoldmells Beach Wheelchairs website.

Shopmobility provides the use of manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters to help people with limited mobility or sight problems to get around the city to shop, visit attractions and use local facilities.

In addition to this, trained sight guides are available for people with sight problems, either to accompany you on foot or to push your wheelchair. The support is available for people of all ages, whether your need is temporary or permanent, and can be used by residents and visitors alike.

You will need to register before you can use Shopmobility services. There is a one-off membership fee for regular users and a low-cost hire charge for non-members.

For more information on Shopmobility services please visit the Lincoln Dial a Ride website.

If you have a disability that may not be immediately obvious but would appreciate support from staff in UK airports, certain railways, supermarkets, retail stores, visitor attractions or hospitals, then you may be interested to know there is a lanyard you can wear to signal this.

Lincolnshire heritage sites now take part in a national initiative to ensure those with hidden disabilities don't miss out.

Lincoln Castle, The Collection Museum, The Usher Gallery, Gainsborough Old Hall, Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincolnshire Archives and Battle of Britain memorial Flight Visitor Centre are now part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.

All seven sites have a stock of sunflower-patterned lanyards, which visitors can wear to show staff that they may require additional assistance during their visit. Visitors simply need to ask to borrow one when buying their ticket.

This initiative is being supported by RNIB and other charities including Alzheimer’s Society, The National Autistic Society and Action on Hearing Loss.

To find more Sunflower friendly places, please visit the Hidden Disability Sunflower website.