Story so far
In 2017 after two successful Open Events funded by an UnLtd Award, Access Lizard Adventure was set up as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company with 5 directors.
2018:
Spring:
West Cornwall Youth Trust funded 6 days of kayaking sessions from Hayle harbour. A total of 75 participants, with 80% of them under 18.
Sept:
Smartline In Residence Scheme to collaborate with researchers from Exeter University and FoAM Kernow to develop the Sonic Kayak Technology for use on kayaks for people with additional sensory needs.
2019:
A year of growth with a new site and 3 successful funding applications.
Smartline, Exter Uni and FoAM Kernow
Our main project was with Smartline, an EU funded project with the University of Exeter.
The Sonic Kayak technology is both a musical and scientific instrument and has been developed by the Falmouth-based organisation FoAM Kernow. Working alongside FoAM the units were tested with a group of people with visual impairments, including a sound workshop and culminating in an Open Event in October. You may have seen a report on BBC Spotlight?
National Lottery award
The development of the new site at Clowance Estate has been supported by the National Lottery Awards for All so that we now have a full fleet of kayaks, wetsuits, safety equipment and a place to store equipment and for people to get changed.
Beach wheelchair
Finally, we were awarded a grant from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Community Fund for a Beach Wheelchair.
We are very excited to have this resource available to be used at all our sites as it is easily transportable. We also have a banana board to help people when transferring from their chair into the beach wheelchair or onto the kayak or canoe.
2020:
A big pause while we all coped with the pandemic. We worked on an exciting Sensory Stories project (online) that will be revealed later in 2021.
2021:
A successful recovery year – everyone was keen to get back to outdoor activities after the lockdowns. We adpated to working within covid restrictions and operated in the sheltered location of Clowance Estate. We ran 14 days of activities and gave 189 kayaking experiences.
We also worked on the Sensing Nature project with the University of Exeter to create a Kayaking Sensory Story. This project aims to develop and use sensory stories to help support safe and rewarding water-based experiences amongst people with complex and profound disabilities. In sensory stories, each sentence is partnered with a rich sensory experience. You can read more about the whole project HERE and download the story booklet. This is an exciting and ongoing project that will continue into 2022. We are hoping to use the story to bring the kayaking experience to people within their own environment. Please get in touch if you have a groups of people or a residential or educational setting that would be interested in having a kayaking sensory story visit.
2022:
We had a fantastic season with stunning warm weather and enthusiastic and inspiring clients. Having had so much fun, we have planned more kayaking sessions for 2023 and even some forest school / bushcraft skill sessions!