New Dornoch beach chairs give seaside joy
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Dornoch is the centre of a pioneering project to give less able bodied people access to its wonderful beaches.
The charity Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs was inspired by the belief that everyone has the right to enjoy the seaside.
The new free service is unique to the north of Scotland and is the culmination of more than two years of fundraising.
The £70,000 project launched last Friday and will offer a seat by the sea to any disabled or infirm person from any part of the UK.
After over two years of hard work by the charity’s chair Isla Fullerton-Smith and a dedicated team of volunteers, a new shed housing the wheelchairs has opened.
Beach wheelchairs can be hired free of charge from the base at Dornoch Beach car park, manned by local volunteers. The facility has four state-of-the-art wheelchairs.
“Having these chairs will mean everything to disabled people who have found it difficult to access the beach in the past. They are free to hire and we are looking forward to seeing them in use,” said the group.
“All of the wheelchairs have been specially designed to enable individuals with disabilities to get back on the beach. They have large, rubber wheels that move easily over the sand. They can also be pushed into the sea to allow the user to enjoy a paddle.
“Thanks to our community council who have funded the hydraulic hoist to enable safe transfer from the user’s chair into the beach chair.”
The big step forward for the project came when the Beatrice Wind Farm awarded a large part of the funds needed – adding to many other donors.
The team applied for charitable status and secured a permanent base for the project.
“We have had many enquiries about our project, so it’s clear that there’s a demand and the two nursing homes in town are looking forward to being able to take their residents out to enjoy this facility.
“We’d like to thank everyone that has donated to this fantastic cause, no matter how large or small,” the team added.
