Beach wheelchairs roll into Roker

Sunderland City Council's North Area Committee provided funding support to Beach Access North East (BANE) to install a new storage unit at Marine Walk, Roker, that will house Sunderland's first beach wheelchairs.

Visitors to the beach will now be able to access two hippocampes, which are three-wheeled, all-terrain wheelchairs that are low to the ground and can be taken in shallow water.

The hippocampes are suitable for children, and volunteers at Roker will be able to work with the existing site at South Shields to borrow other wheelchair models for temporary use.

BANE are also hoping to work with partners to buy an upright balloon-tyre chair and a portable hoist to make the beach accessible to even more people.

Caroline Corfield, founder and chair of BANE, said: "I fully expect that the site at Roker Beach will take off as there is such great support for the scheme already.

"Beach Access North East operates at sites from Bamburgh to Seaton Carew and is very pleased to add Roker to our list of fabulous North East beaches where everyone can enjoy the North Sea waves, the golden sands and being with friends and family.

"We'd especially like to thank Sunderland Council for all their help both financial and operational, the National Lottery and other funding groups within the Spacehive crowdfunding platform who helped with our shortfall, and our steering group partners Headway Wearside and Sunderland Parent/Carer Forum.

"We have users who have used our chairs for fishing, for sea swimming, skinny dips, walking their dogs, or simply having a picnic on the sand. It is our pleasure to help people experience the beach for the first time or for their last time, and I know I speak for our volunteers when I say it is a humbling and uplifting experience to help people do this too."

Councillor Louise Farthing, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills, said: "These new wheelchairs are going to make a huge difference to children and will allow many families to experience the beach together for the first time.

"Everyone should be able to enjoy the beach, and we want as many people as possible to be able to make the most of our beautiful coastline. I'm delighted that the North Area Committee has been able to work with BANE to make Roker Beach accessible to even more people and we look forward to continuing this relationship to continue to improve accessibility."

Councillor Denny Wilson, Chair of the North Area Committee said: "The North Area Committee were delighted to provide grant funding support to BANE in order to support the delivery of this project and provided a much-needed resource and asset to Sunderland North."

BANE is a charity and relies on the help of volunteers, Caroline added: "We are looking for volunteers to help at Roker and there is no pushing or lifting involved, just advising people so they get the right chair for their needs. Full training will be given will be given to anyone who would like to offer their support."