Member Article

Your Housing Group to sponsor Disability Awareness Day

Your Housing Group is set to be the principal sponsor of Warrington Disability Partnership’s (WDP) internationally-recognised Disability Awareness Day (DAD) 2015 .

More than 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the world’s largest not-for-profit, voluntary-led, pan-disability exhibition, which will once again be hosted at Walton Hall Gardens on Sunday, 12 July.

It will be the 24th year of the annual celebration of the local, regional and national support services that enable disabled people, carers and families to stay independent.

A huge tented village housing 250 exhibitors - including equipment suppliers; transport; holidays; leisure and employment providers; and support groups and services - is set to inspire visitors to travel from all over the UK and beyond.

Kathy Cowell, Chair of Your Housing Group, said: “Your Housing Group is extremely proud to be the principal sponsor of Disability Awareness Day again this year. Our presence will have a strong focus on health and wellbeing. Visitors can have a go on our smoothie bikes and enjoy free smoothies, which will be given away throughout the day.

’We have some very inspirational young people joining us, including Paralympic hopeful Shaun Burrows and members of the Ability Counts football club – both of whom we sponsor - to demonstrate that disability shouldn’t be a barrier to sport. I’m sure it will be a really memorable, fun-filled community event for everyone.“

“The back-story to DAD is a great example of just how far a ’can do’ attitude can take you,“ says Event Founder and Co-ordinator, Dave Thompson MBE DL.

’What started out 24 years ago as a one-off event is now the highlight of the international disabled community’s calendar – inspiring similar events as far afield as India and Cameroon!

’There is no greater satisfaction for me than seeing ’DAD’s Army’ of volunteers coming together to support people to enjoy and access our week-long programme of events - all of which are about awareness-raising, celebrating diversity and promoting independent living. Thanks to the support of our sponsors – including principal sponsor Your Housing Group - there is something for everyone during ’DAD Week’ and I urge people of all ages to take the opportunity to join us at Walton Hall Gardens – especially as the weather forecast is looking good!“

Players from Cheshire Phoenix basketball team, who are principally sponsored by Your Housing Group, will also be shooting hoops with the DAD basketball team.

Staff from Your Housing Group will be on hand to offer advice on housing needs and to talk about local work clubs and apprenticeships. Hive, the group’s new private rent company, will be showcasing to visitors the benefits of renting with Hive in Warrington. Using ‘Augmented Reality’ technology, visitors will be able to see inside a new Hive property before they have been built.

The big day - which will take place from 10am to 5pm - will be a fitting finale to a week comprising a variety of complementary events to savour, which are guaranteed to attract many more visitors.

For more details on DAD and ‘DAD Week’ and all the events listed, please contact Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Your Housing Group .