e-newsletter: May 2008
Many visitors to Good Access Guide have already taken advantage of the new specialist worldwide holiday service offered by Richard Thompson and the award winning travel agency – Travel Counsellors.
Offering what is perhaps a unique tailor-made accessible travel service means the travelling around the globe is now a genuine option for all. Check out the holiday pages of Good Access Guide and discover how you can experience every style of holiday including European and worldwide, city breaks, cruises, flight-only, UK breaks and more. Want to visit relatives downunder? No problem.
Ambitions to experience an adventure holiday – maybe a safari or scuba diving? It is all possible. A whole world of access opportunities await – so what are you waiting for – it’s time to take off!
For your tailor made holiday call Richard now on 0845 058 8059.
We would like to say a big hello to some of our newest advertisers on the Good Access Guide
Upgrade to a Full Business Web Page...
We've got some great offers for businesses that upgrade to a Full Business Web Page.
Call Jo on 01502 566005 to hear all about them!
Don't forget… If you run a business and you've adapted your premises or the way you provide a service to help disabled people, get yourself noticed on the Good Access Guide.
We have free listings and full business web pages.
If you would like to know more about our advertising opportunities, e-mail Jo Forster at jo@goodaccessguide.co.uk or call her on 01502 566005.
Not ones to sit around twiddling our thumbs, we are always on the lookout for new business opportunities.
We already provide Disability Awarness Training for a number of very diverse customers. The European Union have now brought out a new Regulation, snappily titled "Regulation (EU) 1107/2006". This regulation concerns the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air - and not before time!
Anyway, to cut a long and possibly boring story short, we thought we could possibly tie up our expertise in the disability arena with that of our travel experience. A new website was born - www.eu-1107.co.uk - which made it to the top of Google in just a couple of weeks (if you would like some hints and tips on Search Engine Optimisation, just drop me a line to ian@goodaccessguide.co.uk).
We've had a good response via the website which has led to one of our trainers flying off to Kuwait to train key staff within Kuwait Airways. And with this one in the bag we'll be looking at getting more airlines and airports on board.
It's great to work with some of the biggest and smallest businesses both at home and abroad. We can find solutions to all your business needs in relation to disability issues. If you think we can help you out, just give us a call on 01502 566005.
This month it's my turn in Who's Who.
My name is Ian Carter and, amongst a host of other duties, I edit this newsletter.
I've been working on the Good Access Guide for quite some time, primarily on the web development side - an area that is constantly evolving. In fact our wishlist of new features just keeps getting longer! I'm also known to help out with Technical Support, accounts and am even a reserve member of the sales team...
My wife has a spinal injury and so we are well aware, and have experienced, the problems faced by many of our visitors when trying to find accessible businesses and services. That's why I jumped at the chance of being involved with the Good Access Guide.
I also lead a bit of a double life... About six years ago I joined Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as a retained firefighter. I am
available for fire calls literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At any moment, night or day, my alerter (a pager) can summon me to
the fire station - which is only 100 yards away from my house and a couple of minutes away in the car from the GAG offices.
And we can turn out to anything - house fire, chemical spill, road accident - the list is endless. At least I've never had to retrieve a cat from a tree!
If you've got nothing better to do (and I'm sure you have), have a read of my firefighters blog. It may even turn out to be a cure for insomniacs!
That's enough about me. If you have any comments about this newsletter, the Good Access Guide website or ideas for our wishlist, just drop me a line to ian@goodaccessguide.co.uk.
Beyond Boundaries Live the exhibition showcasing products, services and interactive activities to the disability sector have joined forces with a number of charities providing them with a unique fundraising opportunity.
For every visitor that attends Beyond Boundaries Live and has heard about the event through an associated charity, £5.00 will be donated by Zinc Events, the organisers towards the specific charity.
Show Manager Christie O'Connor commented "Beyond Boundaries Live is about promoting independence and living life to the full. The event focuses on what you can do, not what you can’t do. We are delighted to be able to support charities with the same ethos as us and very much hope they benefit from the monies received!"
Some of the charities involved include Queen Elizabeth's Foundation, The Disability Foundation, Limbless Association, Blesma, Disabled Living Foundation, Back Up Trust, Spinal Injuries Association, Disability Sports Events, ASBAH, The Jennifer’s Trust, REACH, Whizz-Kidz, Mencap and lots more.
Beyond Boundaries Live is aimed at people with various disabilities and of different ages, as well as their families, carers, professionals and the elderly who are experiencing limited mobility. The event will focus on everything from holidays, employment, sports, the arts, fashion, vehicles, kid’s activities through to inspirational talks from celebrities.
There will also be an array of features such as the Sports Demo area which will include dance and drama workshops, as well as interactive activities displayed by charities. The Limbless Association will provide football demonstrations, Whizz- Kidz will provide visitors with wheelchair skills training and life skills training will be demonstrated by the Back Up Trust.
Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive a number of vehicles that are adapted to suit their individual needs. These include the latest developments from Brotherwood, Allied Vehicles, Gowring mobility, Ford Dangenham motors and lots more. There is also a Healthcare Seminar held by the College of Occupational Therapists, Diabetes UK, Queen Elizabeth Foundation and many more. This will include informative talks about the latest commodities and services available.
To register and get free tickets for the show and for more information please visit www.beyondboundarieslive.co.uk or call 0208 971 8286.
We are now actively growing the Voluntary Organisations (VO) section of the website. Charities and similar organisations relating to disability are all eligible for a free listing on the website. In fact it's better than our standard free listing. The Voluntary Organisation receives up 600 characters to briefly describe their activities, one image and all the necessary contact details including a link straight through to their own website.
There are over 200 Voluntary Organisations listed on Good Access Guide and there's room for plenty more. If you work for a charity or know an organisation that you feel should be listed, just drop us a line to vo@goodaccessguide.co.uk.
And all we ask in return (and we do ask really nicely) is that the Voluntary Organisation links back to the Good Access Guide website from their own site.
That’s it for this issue of our newsletter. We look forward to bringing your more from the UK’s leading online guide to life, leisure and mobility in the next Good Access Guide Newsletter.