We are proud that stories from service users and volunteers at Disability Sheffield are among those providing evidence in a new national report highlighting inequalities that certain communities face when accessing parks and natural spaces near to where they live.
The report, compiled by the National Outdoors For All Working Group has been released by environmental organisation Groundwork, which describes itself as ‘a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK’
A total of 23 organisations were involved in giving evidence for the report, including Disability Rights UK, who run the Get Yourself Active scheme, which you can also follow on Twitter.
Anna Denham, Get Yourself Active Programme Manager, said: “Urban green spaces are important for everyone’s health and wellbeing. They offer a wealth of physical and mental health benefits, particularly for people who have the most to gain from them, including disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. They offer a space to take physical exercise, to meet with friends, and to simply breathe in some fresh air, whilst absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of nature. It is therefore vital that we ensure that everyone has equal access to these much needed spaces. This report is an important step to that aim.”
The Groundwork report contains several real life testimonials from people including Disability Sheffield volunteer and trustee Zanib’s story.
Get Yourself Active’s website meanwhile will be showing everyone’s story on a rotational basis, including four ‘stories from Sheffield,’ the first of which features Ann-Marie The Rivelin Warrior. Congratulations to everyone who has taken part.
You can download the report ‘Out of Bounds:Equity in Access to Urban Nature’ here.
You can also share your story with Get Yourself Active.
