Help Hayley to Add a Wheelchair Accessible Swing in Wormholt Park

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Local mum backed by council in campaign for disabled children

A local mum is raising money for a wheelchair accessible swing in Wormholt Park as part of a campaign to make local parks more accessible for disabled children.

Hayley Wedgbury, who has lived in the borough for 12 years since moving down from Birmingham, was frustrated by the lack of facilities that could be used by her eight-year-old daughter Mia, who has cerebral palsy.

Hayley has now teamed up with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to get a wheelchair accessible swing included as part of the regeneration of Wormholt Park. The goal is to raise £14,000 to cover the cost and installation of the swing,and the council has agreed to match whatever is donated by residents towards this total.

Individuals and local businesses who want to help can find out more and donate to Hayley’s cause at her crowdfunding page.

" Mia loves to play and loves to interact with other children, " says Hayley, " so it was pretty disheartening walking through the parks in the weekends and school holidays as all the mainstream activities are not accessible to wheelchairs and so we would be on the sideline watching other children play.

" When she visits accessible parks she is absolutely in her element, laughing. She absolutely enjoys it."

When Hayley first came to the borough, she got in touch with local support group Parents Active, which helps families with disabled children. After she noticed a shortage of inclusive play equipment in the borough, they put her in touch with the council’s parks team who have stepped in to help bring her goal to life.

" We are delighted to help out with Hayley’s campaign," says Cllr Sue Fennimore, H&F Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion.

“It is only right that disabled children should be able to experience the same joy from our playground facilities as every other child. Along with the new wheelchair-accessible roundabout in Ravenscourt Park, it underlines our commitment to being inclusive."

So far Hayley has raised more than £2,700 of her target.

" Getting the swing installed would just mean the opportunity to go out and know where we’re going and know we’re feeling welcomed," she says. " If you’re not catered for, it’s hard to feel welcomed in a community.

" But I don’t just want to raise money, I want to raise awareness too."

Spread the word about Hayley's campaign this Christmas, and we will keep you posted on her progres.

 

December 7, 2015