Widening the Welcome workshop

The event is aimed at organisations and stakeholders with an interest in improving Chilterns accessibility and making the countryside more inclusive. It will bring together learning and ideas from both the countryside access sector and the leisure and tourism sector.

We will draw on best practice case studies and it will be a chance to look at collaborative opportunities across the Chilterns and share ideas. The purpose of the workshop is also to capture YOUR INPUT and ideas on projects and priorities for the Defra Access funding 2024/25. It is a chance to look at future opportunities and collaborations across the Chilterns. For further information about the Access Fund and what projects we funded in 2022/23 see https://www.chilternsaonb.org/flagship-projects/defra-access-for-all/

The programme will include talks and case studies from the following:

Ross Calladine, Visit Britain, Disability and Access Ambassador, Tourism

Launch of Chalkscapes: Co-creating solutions with diverse communities - Professor Gurch Randhawa, University of Bedfordshire Institute for Health Research

Buckinghamshire Accessibility Hub- Lucy Dowson, Visit Buckinghamshire

The Centre for Outdoor Accessibility Training – setting standards for countryside accessibility. Val Woods, Natural England

The National Trust - Accessibility & inclusivity in the Chilterns – Neil Harris

Plus presentations from Buckinghamshire Disability Service and Chilterns case studies – We will hear from local businesses and countryside sites about the steps they’ve taken to make their sites and services more accessible and inclusive.