Disability Won't Stop Strictly Wheels Star!

Paula Moulton became reliant on a wheelchair when complications after pneumonia and MRSA left her with damage to her pelvis. An impromptu dance lesson however set her on a course which has changed her life – and attitude to disability. 

You may recognise Paula as one half of Strictly Wheels, a wheelchair dancing couple, who compete for Team GB at IPC Level, or from her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent – where they went on to become semi-finalists.

Paula has started using an Ottobock Ventus wheelchair as her daily use chair, which has been designed to keep up with her active lifestyle.

“It’s amazing the difference a wheelchair can make”, explains Paula Moulton. “I often struggle with spasms, but after a whole day in this chair, this has reduced. I also noticed I use less energy, which is so important for me to have in a wheelchair.”

Paula wants to raise awareness about the benefit of being active. Her advice to others: “To be active in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you have to tumble on a rugby pitch or sprint for a basketball. There are plenty of sports out there that can keep your body fit and your mind active. Participating in sports such as wheelchair dancing can really help you build confidence – as well as fitness and strength of mind and with the right mind set you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.”

 

Staycation Top 10

Holidaycottages.co.uk today announced that the quaint seaside towns of Appledore in Devon and Bude in Cornwall are set to be two of the UK’s most popular staycation hotspots this summer.

Appledore, famed for its narrow cobbled streets, ship building, gig racing, and book festivals takes the crown for most desirable UK staycation spot with Holidaycottages.co.uk revealing that they are 76 per cent booked throughout August from people wanting to bed down in the seaside hamlet. Rounding out the top 10 are:

·         Bude (Cornwall) – a laidback coastal town that’s Britain's answer to Santa Monica with three quarters (74 per cent) of properties booked throughout July and August

·         Woolacombe (Devon) – lovely seaside resort town on the coast of North Devon

·         Glastonbury (Somerset) – the iconic festival-goers favourite

·         St Austell (Cornwall) – a bustling market town that’s often referred to as the capital of the Cornish Alps

·         Dorchester (Dorset) – historic town boasting a wide range of family attractions, independent retailers and delicious eateries

·         Moreton-in-Marsh (Cotswolds) – a delightful little town nestled in the heart of the beautiful Cotswold countryside

·         Loch Ness (Scotland) – needs no introduction. Home of the legendary Loch Ness Monster

·         The Cairngorms (Scotland) – stunning mountains, green forests and friendly villages in Britain’s largest National Park

·         Brecon Beacons (Wales) – South Wales’ most famous mountain range and a ramblers delight

Properties featured as part of Holidaycottages.co.uk top 10 UK staycation destinations include:


·         The School House, Woolacombe, North Devon

Set on the edge of the peaceful village of Lee Bay, this cosy one bedroom cottage offers breath taking scenery and cliff-top coastal walks just outside your front door. Perfect for exploring the Tarka Cycling Trail and the wild expanses of Exmoor, the area is great for dog walking, romantic evening strolls and rambling. A week’s stay costs from just £490.

·         Heligan Apartment in St Austell, South Cornwall

Less than a 10-minute drive to the Eden Project – the largest indoor rainforest in the world. Other nearby attractions include the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the historical village and harbour of Charlestown as well as the beautiful countryside of the Cornish peninsula. Sleeping three, this two bedroom, ground floor apartment is located within a secure gated community and a week’s stay costs from just £470.

·         Mawr Neuadd Fach, Brecon Beacons

Situated on a 400 acre beef and sheep farm on the edge of the Black Mountains Mawr Neuadd Fach is an idyllic four bedroom cottage sleeping seven. The perfect launchpad for exploring the waterfalls, forests and market towns of the famed Brecon Beacons National Park, Mawr Neuadd Fach is ideal for lovers of the great outdoors as well as visitors with four-legged friends. Other local attractions nearby include Tretower Court and Castle and the South Wales Borderers Museum. A week’s stay costs from just £505.

Where's your favourite accessible staycation?

Wheelchair Accessible Safari

A web app has been launched by Discover Africa which enables one of nature’s most spectacular wildlife events to be tracked in real-time.

HerdTracker is a real time Google map, which shows instant updates of the migration's precise location. This is coupled with a migration map, which publishes accurate monthly migration predictions, based on data from the Serengeti itself.

Real time updates are sourced weekly from pilots who fly over the Serengeti and Masai Mara, safari guides on the ground, Tanzania National Parks Authority rangers and lodges in the Masai Mara in Kenya.

The migration map allows those planning their safari to see a month-by-month prediction, ensuring safari travellers are in the right place at the right time.

Both tools allow travellers to plan their safari around the weather, wildlife, migratory movements, predator interactions, river crossings and where to stay each month of the year.

Find out about wheelchair accessible safari here and write a review.

Try Wheelchair Rugby

GBWR are offering the chance to try out Wheelchair Rugby on Monday 28th April at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke.

The free taster session will be for any potential players, male or female, with a physical impairment. Wheelchairs and coaching will be provided. There will also be an appearance from a player from Stoke city football club joining in the fun on the day. Journalists brave enough to have a go are welcome too.

An exciting fusion of ice hockey, handball and rugby, the game was originally founded in Canada in 1977. It’s not only based on speed and chair contact, but is also a tactically intelligent game to be involved in. Eight rolling substitutes make up squads of 12, with four players on court per team at any time, with the aim of driving the ball across the opponents' goal line. Contact between wheelchairs is permitted, as players use their chairs to block and hold opponents. The emphasis of the sport is on fun, excitement and inclusion, particularly for players with higher levels of impairment.

This taster session is part of a wider week of Wheelchair Rugby taking part in Stoke leading up to the Wheelchair Rugby National Championships taking place 3rd – 5th May at Fenton Manor in Stoke. It will see the UK’s top Wheelchair Rugby teams battle it out for the cup including some of the stars of London 2012 and future athletes of Rio 2016.

The taster session takes place between 12pm – 2pm on Monday 28th April at Fenton manor Sports complex in Stoke, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2RR. More information can be found on the website: www.gbwr.org.uk 

Learn About The English Country House

Celebrate St George’s Day by delving into 450 years of literature inspired by the English country house.

A revolutionary digital course launched today by the University of Sheffield will give people from across the world a unique glimpse into the extraordinary life, culture, drama and literature of the traditional English country house.

Fans of Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice will be able to delve into 450 years of literature inspired and set in some of the country’s most magnificent buildings such as Chatsworth House – home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire which has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family and has one of Europe’s most significant art collections.

The Literature of the English Country House is the second FutureLearn Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) hosted by the University which is transforming education and making learning free and accessible to all.

The eight week course is ideal for 18th century literature lovers and costume drama enthusiasts who would like to discover the secrets behind the exquisite English country houses which are steeped in history, romance and sometimes scandal.

Learners will explore the magnificent 17th century wall paintings of Bolsover Castle often hailed to be the best of their kind in the country and visit Haddon Hall, frozen in the time of William Shakespeare and a great inspiration for the great gothic novelist Anne Radcliffe 200 years later.

Throughout the course participants will learn techniques to analyse literature and make their own connections with the English country house.

There are no prerequisites for registering for this or any other MOOC hosted by the University. Education or academic background is not important – budding learners from around the world simply need an internet connection.

Registration for the course is open today and learning will begin on 2 June 2014. The online lecturers will not only take learners on a literary journey but give them the unique opportunity to go through the key hole of six of Yorkshire and Derbyshire’s most famous addresses.

Would You Move Away?

Seven out of ten British young people consider a future away From the UK, with the weather, quality of life, and the current government being the leading factors, shows a recent survey.
When asked for specific reasons, more than 20% blamed the economy and over 30% said they were unhappy with the current government.

The survey – carried out by Robinsons Relocation – showed that one third of those that wished to leave agreed that life in the UK was too expensive and that they would like to live somewhere cheaper, whilst one in five would like their family to have a better future than what currently seems available in the UK.

Employment and job opportunities were other popular reasons for considering life abroad, as was the cost of attending university.

East Anglia, The North West, The West Midlands and Northern Ireland saw the largest rates of unhappiness, with over 80% of youngsters from each considering an escape.

In contrast, 80% of young people in the East Midlands saw their long term futures there.

When asked where they would like to move, The United States was by far the most popular location with over 60% of the votes, followed by Australia, and Canada, showing British Youth prefer English speaking countries.

Holiday Like #MadMen

With the final 14 episodes of Mad Men about to start, British Airways have put together a guide to the best places to stay in New York if you'd like to experience 1960s glamour and visit some of the places featured in the show.

Roosevelt Hotel

The Roosevelt hotel was featured in the show. Visit the Madison Club Lounge bar to absorb yourself in the glamour of the 1960s.

 Stay at the 4* Roosevelt From £699

Room rate discounted included on selected dates.

Based on travel in June

The Waldorf

One of New York’s first grand hotels, and mentioned on the show in relation to its menu. British Airways recommends the hotel’s original waldorf salad.

 Stay at the 5* Waldorf Astoria New York with British Airways From £749

5* Waldorf Towers (Occupying the 28th to 42nd floors of the iconic Waldorf Astoria) From £879

Based on travel in June

The Pierre

The Pierre is Manhattan’s premier social and business address. The characters used one of the rooms here as an office.

Stay at the 5* The Pierre, A Taj Hotel From £979

Based on travel in May

 

 

Other places featured in the show and hotels nearby….

The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station

Featured as a location in the show and a romantic and glamorous location for any Mad Men enthusiast.

5* Andaz 5th Avenue, a Hyatt Hotel – a luxury boutique hotel, perfect to feel like you’re on the set of Mad Men.

From £799. Travel in May/June.

 PJ Clarke's is one of the oldest bars in New York

Christina Hendricks, the actress who plays office manager Joan Harris is rumoured to be a frequent visitor - Hotels near PJ Clarke’s include:

4.5* Smyth Tribeca – This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is inspired by a Madison Avenue ad man's boutique bachelor pad.

From £799. Travel in May/June.

5* Conrad New York - Contemporary all-suite luxury hotel with magnificent views of the Hudson River

From £679. Travel in June.  

Madison Avenue

Provides the setting for the famous advertising agencies featured in Mad Men Hotels in the area include:

4* The Roger – A  Mr & Mrs Smith hotel with Mad Men inspired style and décor and very appropriately named, as it’s somewhere you could imagine bumping in to Roger Sterling.

From £739. Travel in June.

 

5* The Surrey - This boutique hotel is grand and glamorous and perfect for a Mad Men visit.

From £919. Travel in June.


Add your accessible New York reviews!

All packages are for return British Airways World Traveller flights and three nights hotel stay for two adults sharing one room on a room only board basis.  No book by date unless stated.